Overview
- The India Meteorological Department upgraded the system to Cyclone Arnab and said it is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday, October 28, as a very severe cyclonic storm with sustained winds of 115–125 kmph and gusts up to 140 kmph.
- The IMD has issued red warnings for coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha and forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 27–28 with isolated very heavy spells and a possible 1 to 1.5 metre storm surge in low-lying areas.
- Andhra Pradesh has identified about 570,000 people in vulnerable areas for evacuation and authorities expected evacuation operations to begin on Monday evening, with control rooms and toll-free helplines activated to move residents to shelters.
- National and state response forces have been deployed with 10 NDRF teams and 11 SDRF teams pre-positioned in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha teams and the Coast Guard alerted, and officials have ordered power crews, hospitals and transport services to remain on standby.
- Forecasters say the next 48–72 hours are critical for intensification and track updates, so residents should follow four-hourly IMD bulletins and local evacuation orders because heavy rain, coastal flooding and inland landslides could disrupt homes, roads and power supplies.