Bhubaneswar, October 28, 2026: Cyclone Arnab is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong winds across Odisha over the next two days. According to the India Meteorological Department, the system is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on the forenoon of 28 October, with red and orange alerts issued across Odisha districts. Extremely heavy rainfall is forecast at isolated places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on 28 October, with heavy to very heavy rainfall likely in Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh and other coastal districts, and the impact expected to continue into 29 October. Southern Odisha is expected to face significant rainfall and strong winds.
Heavy rainfall of this scale carries health consequences that outlast the storm. Flooding can contaminate drinking water supplies, while standing water becomes a breeding site for mosquitoes. Disruption to sanitation and to everyday access to clinics leaves senior citizens, children, pregnant women and people with existing conditions particularly exposed. Against this backdrop, Star Health and Allied Insurance Company Limited (NSE: STARHEALTH; BSE: 543412), one of India’s leading standalone health insurance companies, is urging families across Berhampur, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri to take timely precautions, and is strengthening access to Virtual Doctor Consultations, guided support and Home Health Care across Odisha.
Treatment at home, under medical supervision Star Health Insurance’s data points to growing adoption of medically supervised treatment at home, which can be especially valuable when roads are waterlogged and travel is unsafe. Home Health Care utilisation among eligible policyholders in Odisha grew nearly 7.5X between April and September 2026 compared with the same period last year.
Essential precautions for families in Odisha
- Drink only safe water: boil or chlorinate it and store it covered.
- Keep floodwater off food and hands: wash hands with soap after any contact, and discard food it has touched.
- Avoid wading through floodwater: keep cuts covered and clean.
- Stop mosquito breeding: clear stagnant water around the home once the rain eases.
- Avoid mosquito bites: use nets and repellents and wear full sleeved clothing.
- Keep medicines ready: stock regular medicines, prescriptions and oral rehydration salts.
Consult a doctor early for fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, persistent body ache, rashes or skin infections rather than relying on self-medication, particularly in the case of senior citizens, children, pregnant women and people with existing conditions, and seek immediate medical attention for breathing difficulty, persistent high fever, bleeding or signs of dehydration.
Commenting on the advisory, Mr. Aditya Omprakash Biyani, Chief Business & Provider Relations Officer, Star Health Insurance, said: “A cyclone’s health impact is rarely limited to the days of heavy rain. Contaminated drinking water, stagnant pools and disrupted sanitation keep families at risk long after the skies clear, and the early symptoms of waterborne and mosquito borne illness look much the same, so only a doctor can tell them apart. The costliest mistake a family can make at such a time is waiting it out. We would urge households across Odisha to secure safe drinking water now, keep regular medicines and prescriptions within reach, and seek advice early rather than self-medicating. Between April and September, Home Health Care utilisation among our customers in Odisha grew nearly 7.5X compared with the same period last year, which shows that families are increasingly choosing medically supervised treatment at home when their condition allows it. With Virtual Doctor Consultations, Talk to Star and Home Health Care, our policyholders can reach a doctor without having to step out while travel is unsafe.”
Three service interventions:
- Unlimited teleconsultations for policyholders: Available during the policy period for early medical advice when symptoms emerge.
- ‘Talk to Star’ for policyholders: Call 7200 222 333 and press 1 for Home Health Care or 2 for planned hospitalisation for guidance on treatment pathways, cashless processes and network hospitals.
- Cashless Home Health Care: For eligible policyholders whose conditions can be managed at home, Star Health facilitates treatment prescribed by a doctor, including nursing care, blood tests, monitoring, IV fluids and injections, subject to policy terms.
Free Virtual Doctor Consultation for the general public:Members of the public who are not Star Health policyholders can book a free Virtual Doctor Consultation by downloading the Star Health Customer app from 8 AM to 8 PM, signing up with basic details and selecting ‘Telemedicine’ from the menu.
Star Health encourages households across the state particularly those with senior citizens and young children, to use only boiled or chlorinated water, keep their surroundings free of stagnant water once the rain eases, and seek medical advice for persistent fever or stomach upset rather than relying on self-medication.
