Cyclone Arnab prompts school closures and emergency measures in three districts

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Cyclone Arnab, prompting three North Andhra districts to step up safety measures. Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts have closed schools, readied relief camps, and opened round-the-clock control rooms.

Visakhapatnam Measures

Visakhapatnam Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore announced that all educational institutions will stay closed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Beaches and tourist spots are closed, and residents must avoid going out unless it is an emergency. One team each from the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force are stationed in the district, while the Navy and Coast Guard remain on alert. Officials are identifying pregnant women nearing their due dates to shift them to hospitals and are briefing the media every six hours. Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ketan Garg asked residents in low-lying and hilly areas to stay indoors for three days. Andhra University cancelled in-person classes from Monday and shifted to online classes until November 4, according to Registrar K. Rambabu.

Anakapalli And ASR Action

In Anakapalli, Collector Vijaya Krishnan declared a holiday for all schools from October 27 to 29. Flood stores and relief centres opened in six coastal mandals, and residents in huts, tin sheds, and kutcha houses are moving to safer places. Each five-kilometre road stretch will have a team with a JCB, a tipper, and ten workers. The Eastern Power Distribution Company and the Agriculture Department have launched dedicated control rooms. Handloom officer Padma advised weavers to protect their looms and yarn with tarpaulins. In the ASR district, Collector T. Nishanthi declared a two-day holiday for day-scholar schools, colleges, and anganwadi centres, while residential schools and hostels remain open. ITDA Project Officer Aditya Varma ordered the evacuation of landslide-prone areas. Raincoats and satellite phones are going to personnel on cyclone and election duty.

Government Funding

The Andhra Pradesh government has released 27 crore rupees across 20 districts for relief work. Special Chief Secretary for Disaster Management G. Sai Prasad allocated two crore rupees each to Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada, and Anakapalli. Srikakulam, Markapuram, Guntur, NTR, Eluru, ASR, Polavaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Sri Sathya Sai, Nellore, and Tirupati received one crore rupees each.

Context

Tropical cyclones frequently strike India's eastern coastline during the post-monsoon season, bringing heavy rainfall and strong gales that threaten low-lying habitations. District administrations follow standard disaster protocols by closing educational institutions, setting up control rooms, and clearing vulnerable settlements before severe weather makes landfall.