Cyclone Arnab has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on Wednesday, October 28, with winds reaching 125 kmph and gusts of up to 140 kmph.
The cyclone is forecast to bring sustained winds of 115-125 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 140 kmph. (Photo: Zoom.earth)
As Cyclone Arnab gathered strength over the Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday morning, authorities along the eastern coast moved into preparedness mode ahead of its expected landfall near Puducherry’s Yanam by the forenoon of October 28.
With sustained winds of 115-125 kmph and gusts of up to 140 kmph forecast, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are stepping up evacuations, closing educational institutions in vulnerable areas and mobilising rescue teams to protect residents and limit damage.
The storm, which was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 2.30 am on Tuesday, moved west-northwestwards at 25 kmph over the preceding six hours.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said it was likely to continue moving in that direction until Tuesday evening before turning northwestwards and crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts.
The National Crisis Management Committee, chaired by Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan, reviewed preparedness measures, while Indian Railways cancelled 53 trains as a precaution ahead of the landfall.
ANDHRA STEPS UP EVACUATIONS, READIES SHELTERS
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has reviewed Andhra Pradesh’s preparations for the cyclone, directing officials to issue timely warnings and take steps to minimise damage. Schools in affected areas have been closed, beaches shut and traffic on coastal roads is set to be suspended from Tuesday afternoon.
Authorities are also preparing to shift 4,711 pregnant women from vulnerable areas to health centres and hospitals, while officials said all fishermen who had ventured into the sea had returned safely.
To strengthen relief and emergency operations, the state government has released Rs 27 crore to 20 districts. Seven districts (Bapatla, Krishna, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Kakinada and Anakapalli) have received Rs 2 crore each, while the remaining 13 have been allocated Rs 1 crore each.
15 NDRF teams have been deployed at vulnerable locations, including Kakinada, Konaseema, Rajahmundry, Eluru and Machilipatnam, with two teams stationed at Yanam. Three teams each are positioned at the NDRF battalion headquarters in Krishna district and its regional response centre in Visakhapatnam.
Officials have also readied emergency water tankers and fire and rescue equipment, identified 1,763 cyclone shelters and established control rooms across districts and mandals. Six reservoirs, including Tandava, Raiwada and Yeleru, could reach full capacity following the forecast rainfall.
ODISHA SHUTS SCHOOLS, DEPLOYS RESCUE TEAMS
Odisha, though outside the cyclone's expected landfall zone, is bracing for heavy rain and winds gusting up to 80 kmph. Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in six southern districts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur) will remain closed on October 28 and 29, while Anganwadi centres in Ganjam will also remain shut on October 27.
The state has banned fishing and restricted public access to beaches, hills, waterfalls, dams and other tourist spots in vulnerable areas.
Authorities are moving residents of low-lying areas and landslide-prone locations in the Eastern Ghats to safety, prioritising pregnant women, senior citizens, children and persons with disabilities.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has deputed eight ministers to oversee preparations, while cyclone shelters have been readied, official leave cancelled in affected districts and control rooms opened for relief and rescue operations.
24 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams and 6 NDRF teams have been deployed. Farmers have been advised to harvest and safely store crops that are 80-85 per cent mature. Meanwhile, the South Coast Railway has cancelled eight trains and short-terminated two as a precaution.
CYCLONE CASTS A WIDER RAIN NET
The storm is also expected to bring heavy rain to parts of West Bengal between October 28 and 30. South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia are likely to receive heavy rain.
In the sub-Himalayan region, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri could see heavy rainfall on October 29 and 30, with a landslide warning issued for Darjeeling.
In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, all schools have been ordered to remain closed until Tuesday as a precautionary measure.
Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee has also called for preparedness in Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh, where rainfall associated with the weather system is expected.
RAILWAYS CANCELS 53 TRAINS
The South Coast Railway Zone has set up a 24/7 war room and cancelled 53 trains as part of precautionary measures. The railway zone has stepped up round-the-clock monitoring of vulnerable bridges, tracks, yards and signalling systems, deployed patrol staff at sensitive locations and ensured emergency track maintenance materials are available.
Help desks are being set up at major stations, while additional counters will facilitate refunds for cancelled tickets. Catering units have been asked to maintain adequate food stocks, and medical teams, ambulances and alternative power supplies are being kept ready for emergencies.
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