NEW DELHI; Cyclone Arnab intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal on Tuesday, as heavy rain and strong winds began affecting coastal Andhra Pradesh.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) expects the storm to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts near Yanam on Wednesday morning, with sustained winds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph.
Authorities have stepped up disaster preparedness across vulnerable coastal districts, with rescue teams deployed, fishing activities restricted and beaches closed. Air India has warned of possible flight disruptions, while Odisha has suspended tourist boat operations in Chilika Lake. Heavy rain has also disrupted life in parts of Tamil Nadu, where flooding, damaged roads and power outages have been reported.
Air India warns of disruptions to Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada flights
Air India has issued a travel advisory warning that adverse weather associated with Cyclone Arnab could affect services to and from Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada on October 27. Passengers have been advised to check their flight status before travelling and allow additional time to reach airports because road conditions may deteriorate.
Authorities have prepared 1,763 cyclone shelters and established 2,907 control rooms across districts and mandals. As many as 3,185 nodal officers have been deployed to coordinate emergency operations. The state has identified 16 districts, covering 2,460 revenue villages and 92 urban areas, as potentially vulnerable to the cyclone.
Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been stationed across 11 high-risk districts. Authorities said 30,043 fishing vessels had been secured at harbours, while evacuation arrangements were activated across 2,107 Swarna Grama and Swarna Ward units.
Tourist boats and ferry services in Chilika Lake have been suspended from October 26 to 29 as heavy rain and strong winds affect parts of Odisha. Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) officials said boats had been moved to safe locations and staff placed on alert. Fishermen have also begun returning their vessels to shore.
The Paradip Port Authority has provided temporary shelter to 305 fishermen at the Eastern Quay-1 berth. Authorities have moved fishing vessels to safer locations amid warnings of deteriorating sea conditions along the Odisha coast.
Rain lashed parts of Khordha district on Tuesday as the cyclone approached India’s eastern coast. The IMD has issued warnings for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Odisha, prompting local authorities to monitor vulnerable coastal areas and water bodies.
Heavy rainfall disrupted normal life across several districts of Tamil Nadu. Roads were flooded in Tirupattur, while parts of Sivaganga experienced power outages lasting more than 10 hours. Rain damaged a road in Coimbatore district, and water entered houses in Kodaikanal’s Thoppikanal area. Army personnel were also engaged in restoring a landslide-affected road towards Udhagamandalam.
High waves and rough sea conditions have affected parts of Andhra Pradesh’s coastline. At Uppada beach in Kakinada district, erosion displaced protective boulders onto a road, affecting vehicle movement. Authorities have barred public access to beaches as a precaution.
Srikakulam district reported heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds as the cyclone approached. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) warned that rainfall and wind intensity could increase as the storm moved closer to the coast. Residents in vulnerable areas have been urged to remain indoors and follow official safety instructions.
The IMD confirmed that Arnab intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm late on Monday. At 5.30 am on Tuesday, the system was located approximately 260 km south-east of Visakhapatnam and 300 km east-south-east of Kakinada, moving westwards at 22 kmph during the preceding six hours.
The IMD forecasts that Cyclone Arnab will cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, during the forenoon of October 28. Maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, are expected at landfall. The storm remains under surveillance by Doppler weather radar at Visakhapatnam. - Statesman/ANN
