Cyclone Arnab speeds toward Andhra coast as Odisha and Jharkhand brace for heavy downpours

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone 'Arnab' LIVE updates | 'Arnab' hurtling towards Andhra; Kakinada in the grip of fear: Severe Cyclone Arnab is hurtling toward the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, with the India Meteorological Department predicting a landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by Wednesday forenoon with winds reaching 125 to 135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph.

Evacuations And Cancelled Trains

Authorities in Odisha plan to move 48,000 people to safety across eight southern districts, while the National Crisis Management Committee under Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan directed agencies to ensure zero loss of life and minimal damage. Railways have cancelled at least 61 trains, including 53 passenger and MEMU services across the delta region on Tuesday and Wednesday, alongside long-route services like the Visakhapatnam-Kirandul Night Express.

Regional Impact

Rainfall has already hit parts of Andhra Pradesh, with Palasa recording nearly 25 mm of rain in two and a half hours, while winds reached 39 kmph in Tirupati district. The IMD warns of heavy rain in West Bengal from Wednesday to Friday and issued yellow and orange alerts across multiple districts in Jharkhand for three consecutive days starting Wednesday.

Context

Tropical cyclones frequently form in the Bay of Bengal during the post-monsoon months, bringing destructive winds and heavy rains to India's eastern coastline. Emergency preparations such as school closures, train cancellations, and mass evacuations are standard protocols used by state disaster management authorities to protect coastal populations before severe weather hits.