Cyclone Watch: Deep depression nears coastal Andhra - Odisha; The IMD issues a red alert. Is tomorrow a holiday?

A deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is moving west-northwestward and is likely to cross north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining South Urida coast during the next 3-4 hours, the India Meteorological Department said. The system, currently a deep depression, is likely to intensify into a cyclone, which has been named ‘Arnab’, which means ocean in Bengali.

“A deep depression over Westcentral and adjoining North West Bay of Bengal was moving west-northwest at 7 km/h during the last 6 hours centered at 1730 hrs IST today 23 Sep 2026 over the same area near North coast of Andhra Pradesh near 4.001 km E and 18 km N. SW of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 90 km east-northeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 160 km southwest of Gopalpur (Odisha),” the IMD said.

Heavy rain lashing Odisha, Andhra Pradesh

Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are reeling under heavy rains and authorities are stepping up efforts to minimize the impact.

Schools have been closed in at least eight districts of Odisha – Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Khurda – which have declared closure of educational institutions till 24 September. According to news agency PTI, leave for government employees has been cancelled.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the situation and directed officials to ensure round-the-clock emergency response, prepare relief shelters and maintain adequate stock of essential supplies in view of the weather system.

A total of 33 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams have been deployed in the affected districts, while nine more teams have remained on standby in Chhatrapur.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has also asked district collectors to remain vigilant and ensure evacuation of people living in vulnerable areas.

“Constantly monitor inflows in rivers and take measures for necessary storage of water in reservoirs,” Naidu said in an official statement.

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Videos on social media showed torrential rain inundating agricultural fields while rainwater seeped into residential houses in Bhavani Nagar in Tekkali. A tree was also uprooted at Neelapuram mandal.

IMD weather forecast

The meteorological agency has declared several districts in south Odisha under red alert, warning of heavy rainfall in the next two days. Koraput, Gajapati and Ganjam are likely to witness heavy to very heavy rains, while isolated areas may experience extremely heavy rainfall on September 23 and 24.

On September 24 and 25, the red alert has been extended to Kalahandi, Nabarangpur, Koraput and Malkangiri where heavy rainfall is expected.

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For Andhra Pradesh, the IMD has predicted heavy rainfall and declared several districts under red alert. Isolated places in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvatipuram Manyam and Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) districts are likely to experience heavy rainfall between 8.30 am on Wednesday and 8.30 am on Thursday.

The Meteorological Service has also predicted heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam and Eluru districts during the same period.

Similarly, IMD has predicted heavy rain at isolated places over NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Anantapur, Kurnool and Nandyal districts during this 24-hour interval.

(With input from agencies)