Cyclone Arnab: Five Regions on Alert as Storm Heads Towards Andhra Pradesh Coast

As Cyclone Arnab strengthened over the Bay of Bengal and moved towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, the Centre placed five regions on alert on Monday and stepped up disaster preparedness ahead of the storm’s expected landfall. The alerts cover Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) morning bulletin, the cyclonic storm was centred over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal at around 5.30 am on Monday. Moving westward at 15 kmph, it was located approximately 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam. The IMD forecast that Arnab could intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday midnight and become a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday.

The storm is expected to reach the Andhra Pradesh coast and Yanam between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by Tuesday afternoon. It could bring sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph.

Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to assess preparedness and coordinate relief measures. Authorities in Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh were also advised to remain cautious because of forecasts of heavy rainfall.

Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed, with additional personnel kept on standby. The Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard have also prepared their rescue and relief teams. Somanathan directed officials to prioritise public safety, minimise property damage and ensure that essential services are restored quickly if disrupted.

Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the sea between October 26 and October 29. The National Disaster Management Authority, IMD and Ministry of Home Affairs are monitoring developments and coordinating with the affected states.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has ordered continuous monitoring, district-level control rooms and regular warnings for coastal residents. Fishing boats have been instructed to return to shore, while pregnant women nearing delivery are being shifted to hospitals.

The state has deployed 10 NDRF teams and kept another 16 on standby. Emergency personnel in Visakhapatnam are coordinating with the Navy and Coast Guard, while the Energy Department has prepared 25,000 electric poles to address potential power disruptions.

In Odisha, six districts have been identified as vulnerable. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assigned eight ministers to supervise preparedness measures. The state has deployed NDRF, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and police personnel, prohibited fishing and restricted tourist access to vulnerable areas.