Visakhapatnam, Oct 26: Cyclone Arnab has intensified over the Bay of Bengal, prompting the India Meteorological Department (IMD) to issue a red warning for Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining south Odisha coast, with the system forecast to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28. The storm was located about 590 km northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands early Monday.
The IMD said the system intensified from a deep depression into cyclonic storm Arnab by 5.30 am on October 26, after moving westwards at 15 kmph over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. It is expected to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight, followed by a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27.
The department forecast that Arnab would subsequently turn northwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28. The storm could bring maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, with gusts reaching 140 kmph.
The cyclone’s projected path places several coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh at risk of damaging winds and intense rainfall. The IMD expects heavy to very heavy rain across North Andhra and the central coastal districts on October 27 and 28, with extremely heavy rainfall possible at isolated locations.
Kakinada, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Konaseema and East Godavari are among the districts likely to face adverse weather conditions. Strong winds could begin affecting coastal areas as early as the morning of October 27.
The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has warned that the next three days will be critical. Its managing director, Prakhar Jain, has urged people to follow safety precautions as the storm approaches the coast.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed preparations on Sunday, including the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas and the establishment of relief centres. He also reviewed arrangements for food, drinking water, medical assistance and power restoration, and directed government departments to coordinate their response.
Authorities are deploying 10 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 11 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) for relief operations.
For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, the IMD’s bulletin places Sri Vijaya Puram among the reference locations used to track the cyclone’s position as it moves across the Bay of Bengal towards India’s eastern coast.
