Andhra Pradesh; Odisha: Cyclone Arnab is expected to reach the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of 28 October as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph and gusts of up to 140 kmph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.
The system has moved west-northwestwards over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal and is expected to intensify further as it approaches the coast.
"It is very likely to move northwestwards, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and reach Westcentral Bay of Bengal near Andhra Pradesh coast around morning of 28th October, 2026," the IMD's Bhubaneswar unit said.
The agency said the storm is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of 28 October, with maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph.
In an update issued at 11:30 pm IST on 25 October, the IMD said the deep depression was centred over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, near latitude 15.3°N and longitude 89.7°E. It was moving west-northwestward at 15 kmph.
The system was located about 520 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, 730 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 820 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 920 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam, and 990 km east of Bapatla.
The IMD forecast that the system would intensify into a cyclonic storm, followed by a severe cyclonic storm on 27 October and a very severe cyclonic storm before reaching the Andhra Pradesh coast the following morning.
Andhra Pradesh and Odisha step up preparedness
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to remain on high alert and ensure preparedness at all levels to minimise the impact of Cyclone Arnab.
During a review meeting on Monday, Naidu instructed departments to coordinate closely, establish control rooms and provide timely guidance to the public. He also directed district administrations to ensure people do not face difficulties as severe weather approaches.
Odisha is also preparing for the cyclone's possible impact. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state government had reviewed the likely effects of the system and assigned responsibilities to departments ahead of its expected landfall.
Odisha deploys rescue teams and cancels disaster personnel's leave
Police and disaster response teams have been deployed in vulnerable coastal districts of Odisha, with 225 rescue teams placed on high alert and leave for disaster personnel cancelled, officials said.
Inspector General of Police for the Central Range, Cuttack, Satyajit Nayak, said four Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams had been deployed in each of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Khordha districts.
Nayak said police would coordinate with district administrations and disaster response agencies on preventive measures, rescue and evacuation operations, traffic management and the relocation of people to cyclone shelters where necessary. Round-the-clock emergency control rooms are operational in all districts.
Manorama Mohanty, director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, warned that although the cyclone was expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, it could bring severe weather, extremely heavy rainfall, and gusty winds to Odisha, particularly its southern regions.
Fishermen stay ashore in Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu, mechanised boat fishermen in Thoothukudi district stayed ashore on Monday as a precaution after a cyclone warning was issued for the area.
