Bay of Bengal cyclone heading towards Andhra and Odisha coast with strong winds and heavy rain

UPDATE - follow-up to Andhra braces for very severe cyclonic storm; Odisha activates disaster mitigation machinery | LIVE: A low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is turning into a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum wind speeds expected to reach between 118 kilometres per hour and 221 kilometres per hour.

Landfall And Impact

The storm will make landfall on the morning of October 28 between the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts. The Odisha government has placed disaster response teams on high alert with a zero-casualty goal, and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has reviewed state preparedness. Five Odisha districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri face the highest risk, and educational institutions in those five districts will stay closed on October 28 and 29.

Warnings And Rain

Fishermen along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts must stay out of the sea. Meanwhile, the Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast heavy to very heavy rain for parts of Tamil Nadu, with red alerts issued for isolated places in Theni, Dindigul, and Madurai districts.

Context

Tropical cyclones frequently form in the Bay of Bengal during the post-monsoon season, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall to India's eastern coastline. Disaster management authorities routinely restrict fishing and close schools ahead of landfall to protect local populations from severe weather hazards.