Cyclone Arnab alert: Odisha shuts schools in six districts, Andhra Pradesh braces for landfall

Odisha and Andhra Pradesh have stepped up precautionary measures ahead of Cyclone Arnabrsquos expected landfall on Wednesday October 28 shutting educational institutions in vulnerable areas prohibiting fishing at sea and deploying rescue teams to minimise casualties and damage news agency PTI reportedIn its Monday morning bulletin the India Meteorological Department IMD said the deep depression over the eastcentral and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal had intensified into cyclonic storm ArnabThe storm is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday evening and a very severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday It is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam close to Yanam by Wednesday morning with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115125 kmph and gusts up to 140 kmph the IMD saidWATCH Delhi Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra DG IMD says It has intensified into cyclonic storm Arnab today morning By noon today it is located over the central part of the Bay of Bengal about 650 kilometres away from Kakinada As per our prediction it is expected to move westnorthwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by today evening and further into a very severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow It will continue to move westnorthwestwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam close to Yanam and Kakinada during the forenoon of 28 October 2026 At the time of landfall it will be a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 115 to 125 kilometres per hour gusting to 140 kilometres per hour At present its wind speed is about 70 to 80 kilometres per hour gusting to 90 kilometres per hour and the sea condition is high The sea condition will gradually become very high to phenomenal meaning the wave height over the sea will be more than 14 metres tomorrow Along the South Odisha coast the wind speed will be around 60 to 80 kilometres per hour gusting to 90 kilometres per hour There will also be a storm surge of 1 to 15 metres above the astronomical tide which is expected to inundate lowlying areas of coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh especially North Andhra Pradesh with the maximum storm surge expected over the East Godavari Kakinada and Yanam areas Under its influence rainfall will commence from the 27th and the maximum rainfall will occur on the 28th over Andhra Pradesh and OdishaTransport will be affected especially the Indian Railways national highways and air transport on the 28th starting from the evening of the 27th Ports and shipping activity will also be affected Consequently fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea and a complete suspension of fishing operations has been recommendedmdash ANI ANI October 26 2026IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said on Monday afternoon that the cyclone was over the central Bay of Bengal around 650 kilometres from KakinadaMohapatra warned that sea conditions would deteriorate with wave heights potentially exceeding 14 metres on Tuesday Along the south Odisha coast wind speeds could reach 6080 kmph gusting to 90 kmph news agency ANI reportedThe IMD has also warned of a storm surge of 1 to 15 metres above the astronomical tide which could inundate lowlying coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh particularly around Kakinada and YanamRainfall is expected to intensify from Tuesday October 27 with heavy to extremely heavy rain forecast in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Transport services including railways road and air travel could be affected Ports and shipping operations are also likely to face disruption The IMD has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea and recommended a complete suspension of fishing operationsCentre reviews cyclone preparednessThe National Crisis Management Committee reviewed preparedness measures for the cyclone at a meeting in New Delhi chaired by Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan on MondaySomanathan directed the Ministry of Home Affairs MHA and the IMD to alert eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where heavy rainfall is also expected in addition to Andhra Pradesh Odisha Telangana Chhattisgarh and PuducherryHe stressed that agencies should work to ensure ldquozero loss of life and minimal damage to property and infrastructurerdquo He also directed officials to restore essential services as soon as possible in the event of damageThe National Disaster Response Force NDRF informed the meeting that teams had been deployed with additional teams kept on standbyldquoRescue and relief teams of the Army Navy Air Force and Indian Coast Guard along with their ships and aircraft have been kept ready Indian Coast Guard has so far shepherded multiple shipsboats to jettiesshore and the remaining ships have been alerted to return to the coastrdquo a government statement saidOdisha shuts schools in six districts bans fishingIn Odisha the government has ordered the closure of schools colleges and Anganwadi centres in six southern districts mdash Ganjam Gajapati Rayagada Malkangiri Koraput and Nabarangpur mdash on October 28 and 29The state has prohibited fishing at sea and barred tourists from visiting hills waterfalls and dams in the six districts in view of the expected adverse weatherChief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has deputed eight ministers to monitor preparations Teams from the NDRF Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force ODRAF Fire and Emergency Services and police have been positioned in vulnerable areasldquoPeople living in thatched houses and lowlying areas are being shifted to shelters Pregnant women are being taken to health centres in advance Special arrangements are also in place for senior citizens children and persons with disabilitiesrdquo Odisha Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari saidThe state government has cancelled leave for employees in the identified districts and opened control rooms to coordinate rescue and relief operationsThe agriculture department has advised farmers to harvest and safely store crops that are 8085 per cent mature Dedicated agricultural helplines have also been opened to provide assistance Pujari saidAndhra Pradesh prepares to shift pregnant womenAndhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed preparations with officials and directed them to alert residents based on the likely impact of the cyclone and take steps to minimise damageHe stressed the need to assess rainfall intensity wind speeds and flood flows and respond according to the evolving situation Naidu also directed officials to draw on lessons from previous cyclones and issue timely warnings to farmers and the publicModerate to heavy rainfall is expected across several Andhra Pradesh districts from Srikakulam to Nellore from Tuesday afternoon accompanied by strong coastal windsHeavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely on October 28 and 29 in North Coastal Andhra districts Konaseema East and West Godavari Eluru Krishna NTR Guntur Palnadu Bapatla Prakasam and Nellore officials saidOfficials informed the chief minister that arrangements were being made to shift 4711 identified pregnant women from vulnerable areas to primary health centres community health centres and hospitals All fishermen who had ventured into the sea had returned safely they addedAuthorities said the Tandava Raiwada Yeleru Tammileru Yerrakalava and Tadipudi reservoirs could reach full storage capacity following the forecast rainfallNaidu directed officials to ensure adequate stocks of essential commodities at ration shops and restore electricity supply immediately wherever disruptions occurredCyclone may bring heavy rain to West BengalThe IMD has also forecast heavy rainfall in several West Bengal districts from October 28 to 30 It has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast from Monday warning that squally winds are likely over the regionThe weather agency has also warned of possible landslides in Darjeeling district The subHimalayan districts of Darjeeling Kalimpong Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri could receive heavy rainfall on October 29 and 30With PTI and ANI inputs