Red Alert Issued in Odisha as Cyclone Arnab Expected to Intensify
The India Meteorological Department warned that Cyclone Arnab will become a very severe cyclonic storm and hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on Oct. 28, prompting a red alert and extensive disaster preparations in Odisha.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said a cyclonic system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on the morning of Oct. 28. The agency forecast wind speeds of 115-125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h, and warned that Odisha could experience heavy rainfall and gusty winds, especially in its southern districts.
Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, told ANI that the depression, currently over the east-central Bay, is expected to deepen into a deep depression on Oct. 25, become a cyclonic storm on Oct. 26, a severe cyclonic storm on Oct. 27, and reach very severe status by Oct. 28. She added that the system will likely cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, while Odisha may see isolated extremely heavy rain and winds of 50-60 km/h, gusting to 70 km/h.
A red alert has been issued for the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri, where landslides are possible due to very heavy rainfall in hilly areas. Heavy to very heavy rain is also forecast for Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nabarangpur, Balangir, Puri, Khordha, Nayagarh, Bargarh and Nuapada through Oct. 29, with conditions easing by Oct. 30.
Maritime warnings include a Distant Cautionary Signal No. 1 at all Odisha ports, with sea conditions expected to be rough to very rough and wind speeds of 40-50 km/h, gusting to 60 km/h. Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore until Oct. 29.
The Odisha government has mobilised 225 rescue teams, cancelled leave for disaster personnel and deployed vehicles, chainsaws, rescue tenders and other equipment. Chief Fire Officer Ramesh Majhi said the teams are on high alert and equipped to respond to any incidents.
The IMD also issued an orange cyclone alert for Andhra Pradesh and the adjacent south-Odisha coast, noting the system’s position on Oct. 25 as about 870 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and outlining its projected path and intensification schedule.