Cyclone Arnab poised for landfall on Andhra Pradesh coast, prompting evacuations and transport disruptions
India's Meteorological Department warned that Cyclone Arnab will hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on Oct. 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm, leading to heavy rain, strong winds, school closures and the cancellation of dozens of train services.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Cyclone Arnab, now classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of Oct. 28. The storm is forecast to bring sustained winds of 125-135 km/h with gusts up to 150 km/h, and heavy to very heavy rainfall across coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
State authorities in Andhra Pradesh have placed the region on high alert, ordered evacuations of low-lying areas and shifted more than 1,300 pregnant women to hospitals. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to move residents from vulnerable locations, ensure relief supplies at camps and minimise damage.
In Odisha, officials plan to relocate about 48,000 people from flood-prone districts, with the highest numbers in Gajapati and Nabarangpur. The state issued an orange warning for six districts, forecasting 12-20 cm of rain, and a yellow warning for 16 additional districts.
Transport services have been disrupted. South Central Railway cancelled 53 train services on Oct. 27-28, and Air India issued an advisory urging passengers to check flight status for Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada. Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said "war rooms are active at zonal, divisional and Board levels" and that "passenger safety is the top priority".
Schools in Odisha’s Khordha district and the Andaman and Nicobar administration have been closed for two days. Anganwadi workers will remain on duty, with dry rations delivered directly to beneficiaries.
The IMD also warned of rough sea conditions along the coast and issued alerts for heavy rain in parts of Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Delhi NCR. Media outlets in Odisha have been asked to avoid spreading unverified forecasts.
Authorities continue to monitor the storm and have set up relief camps and supply chains ahead of the expected landfall.