Cyclone Arnab: As Cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ continues to move towards the Andhra Pradesh coast over the Bay of Bengal, four states have been placed on alert before the weather system makes landfall on Wednesday
morning.
Authorities have intensified preparations in the wake of the weather system, which will gradually intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before hitting the Andhra coast. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh, along with Puducherry, have been placed on alert.
Cyclone Arnab: Landfall Likely On Wednesday
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its bulletin issued on Monday morning, said the storm was located over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am, around 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam. It was moving westwards at 15 kmph. Follow for live updates
The cyclone is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday midnight and further strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday. It is forecast to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, with sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph.
Meanwhile, the IMD advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast from Monday, as squally winds will prevail over the region, and warned of possible landslides in the sub-Himalayan district of Darjeeling in the wake of the cyclone.
Cyclone Arnab: Coastal States Step Up Precautions
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to maintain round-the-clock vigilance, establish district control rooms and issue regular warnings in coastal areas. Authorities are also preparing to move pregnant women nearing their delivery dates to hospitals.
In Odisha, six southern districts — Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur — have been identified as vulnerable. Disaster response teams have been positioned in sensitive areas, while fishing and tourist access to certain hills, waterfalls and dams have been restricted.
The IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall in parts of West Bengal, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh over the coming days.
