NEW DELHI – Cyclone Arnab has intensified into a 'severe cyclonic storm' and is forecast to become a 'very severe cyclonic storm' within the next 12 hours, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The storm is currently tracking westward across the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall on the morning of October 28, 2026, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts.
As of Monday evening, Cyclone Arnab was centered approximately 490 km from Visakhapatnam and 560 km from Kakinada, moving at 17 kmph. Upon landfall, sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph, with gusts up to 140 kmph, are anticipated, posing significant risks to coastal communities.
Extensive Preparedness and Disruptions
In response to the escalating threat, authorities have implemented widespread precautionary measures. A total of 53 train services scheduled for October 27 and 28 have been cancelled, affecting key routes connecting cities like Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, and Visakhapatnam. Educational institutions in the affected regions have been ordered to close, and public access to beaches and tourist sites has been restricted.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to maintain round-the-clock vigilance and establish district-level control rooms. The state has allocated ₹27 crore to 20 districts for immediate relief operations. Plans are also underway to relocate 4,711 pregnant women from vulnerable areas to safer health facilities.
Multi-State Alert and Rescue Efforts
The Centre has issued alerts for Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Puducherry. Odisha has also closed schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centers in six southern districts for October 28 and 29, with evacuations and fishing restrictions actively enforced.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed, with additional personnel on standby. The Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard have mobilized rescue teams, ships, and aircraft to assist in any emergencies. All fishermen who had ventured into the sea have reportedly returned safely.
The IMD forecasts heavy to very heavy rainfall across parts of Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, underscoring the broad impact of the cyclonic system. Authorities are coordinating closely to monitor the storm's trajectory and mitigate potential casualties and damage.