Overview
- Cyclone Arnab intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday and is forecast to make landfall on October 28 between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam near Yanam with sustained winds of 115–125 kmph and gusts up to 140 kmph.
- The India Meteorological Department warns of a 1–1.5 metre storm surge that could inundate low-lying areas and of very high to phenomenal sea conditions with wave heights exceeding 14 metres.
- State and central agencies have activated large-scale preparedness measures including ordered evacuations, more than a thousand cyclone shelters, NDRF/ODRAF/SDRF deployments and control rooms to coordinate rescue and relief.
- Transport and livelihoods are being disrupted as rail services have been cancelled, flights warned of possible disruptions, fishing banned and over 30,000 fishing vessels or thousands of boats brought to harbour for safety.
- Officials say coastal Andhra will take the main impact while southern Odisha, parts of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu face heavy rain, flood and landslide risk and authorities have emphasized a zero-casualty goal and rapid restoration of power and services.