Cyclone Arnab Moves Toward Andhra Pradesh Coast With High Winds and Heavy Rains

Coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are on high alert as Cyclone Arnab approaches. The storm is set to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on the morning of October 28.

Storm Details

The India Meteorological Department reports that a depression over the Bay of Bengal has turned into a deep depression. Winds will reach speeds of 115 to 125 kmph, with gusts up to 140 kmph when it crosses the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam.

Official Action

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has told officials to stay on duty around the clock to keep people safe. In Odisha, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari led a high-level meeting on Sunday to check preparedness. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi also sent eight ministers to vulnerable districts.

Regional Rains

At the same time, heavy rains continue across parts of Tamil Nadu due to the active northeast monsoon. The weather department says more rain will hit the state, along with Puducherry and Karaikal, with winds reaching 40 to 50 kmph in some areas.

Context

Severe cyclonic storms form frequently in the Bay of Bengal during the post-monsoon months, bringing heavy rainfall and destructive winds to India's eastern coastline. State and national disaster management agencies routinely coordinate emergency evacuations and preposition response teams in vulnerable districts ahead of such landfalls to minimize casualties.