Very strong Cyclone ‘Arnab’ which made landfall near Yanam-Kakinada; red alert issued for seven districts

As the cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, which formed over the Bay of Bengal on Monday morning, is approaching landfall and is expected to intensify into a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ by Monday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, has issued a red alert for seven of the 28 districts of Andhra Pradesh on October 27 (Tuesday).

Isolated extremely heavy rainfall of 200 mm or more is likely in Kakinada, East Godavari, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR), Anakapalli, while heavy to very heavy rainfall, around 70 mm to 200 mm, is likely in Visapatgar, Visakha, Krishnam, Visapatgarm, Visakha districts. Guntur, Bapatla, Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam on Tuesday.

According to updated information from IMD, the storm is likely to cross the coast as a “very severe cyclonic storm” with wind speed gusting up to 140 kmph near Yanam or Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh around noon on October 28 (Wednesday).

As part of its preparedness, the state has already deployed seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and eight battalions (SDRF) to the areas likely to be affected.

Cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, which formed over the mid-west and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal on Monday morning, intensified into a severe cyclonic storm by evening.

The IMD bulletin at 9:00 pm said the system was located approximately 490 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha, 490 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam, 560 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 660 km east of Machilipatnam and 730 km east of Bapatla on Monday.

The system may then move to the west-northwest and further strengthen into a very strong cyclonic storm over the same area by Tuesday morning. It is very likely to continue moving west-northwest and cross the coast near Yanam by noon on 28 October as a very strong cyclonic storm.

Till 8:00 PM on Monday, Andhra Pradesh did not report any rainfall activity.

Very hot

The state experienced scorching heat at many places on Monday, with the day’s maximum temperature reaching 38.4 degrees Celsius at Deverapalle in Anakapalli district. Several stations in Kurnool, NTR, Prakasam and East Godavari districts recorded more than 37 degrees Celsius. No station recorded rainfall of more than 2 mm by 5:00 p.m., according to real-time rainfall information available at the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES).

However, heavy rain is expected later this evening or overnight as the system continues to strengthen.

Thunderstorm activity in the state is likely to begin Monday evening. The AP State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has warned the public as gale force winds of 90-100 kmph with gusts of up to 110 kmph are likely to be over coastal Andhra Pradesh while strong winds of up to 50 kmph are likely over Rayalaseema.

Fishermen have been strongly warned not to venture into the sea as the conditions along the AP coast will be very rough. By October 27, the evening may get worse.

For any help, the public can contact 112, 1070, 18004250101.

CM evaluates readiness

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered heightened preparedness across the state in view of the threat posed by very severe cyclonic storm Arnab.

Mr Naidu ordered officials to evacuate people from flood-prone areas, prioritize vulnerable residents and deploy disaster response teams. Measures are being prepared to transfer 4,711 pregnant women to medical facilities. Officials reported that 30,043 fishing boats had safely returned to ports. As inflow to 22 reservoirs is expected, arrangements are being made to store 10-12 tmcft of water.

Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has opened 30 divisional control rooms, apart from 11 circle control rooms, to monitor the situation and coordinate emergency response as part of its cyclone preparedness. Kakinada and East Godavari have three divisional control rooms each, while Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema has two.

The company also sought 150 teams of 10 people each from Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (APSPDCL) and requested additional materials from it.

Published – 26 Oct 2026 18:59 IST