AP Odisha on alert as Cyclone ‘Arnab’ approaches land

The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered officials to evacuate people from flood-prone areas, prioritize vulnerable residents and deploy disaster response teams in the wake of cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu ordered heightened preparedness across the state, officials said, adding that 4,711 pregnant women would be shifted to safer health facilities. They said 30,043 fishing boats returned to ports.

Also read | Deep depression to intensify into cyclonic storm Arnab

As the cyclonic storm approaches the land, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, has issued a red alert for seven of the 28 districts of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday (October 27, 2026). 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 and Anakapalli while heavy to very heavy rainfall around 70mm to 200mm is likely in Visaksa Guadanam, NTR, Vizianagaram districts. Bapatla, Srikakulam and Parvathipuram Manyam on Tuesday (October 26).

The storm is likely to cross the coast as a “very severe cyclonic storm” with winds gusting up to 140 km/h near Yanam or Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh around midday on Wednesday (October 28).

The state has deployed seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and eight SDRF battalions to the areas likely to be affected. The AP State Disaster Management Office has warned the public that gusts of up to 110 km/h are likely over coastal areas. Strong winds of up to 50 kmph are likely to blow over Rayalaseema. For help, the public can contact 112, 1070, 18004250101, the government said.

Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited has opened 30 divisional control rooms, apart from 11 circle-level control rooms, to monitor the situation and coordinate emergency response. Kakinada and East Godavari have three divisional control rooms each, while Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema has two.

1700 shelters prepared

In neighboring Odisha, the government said more than 1,700 shelters were set up for people likely to be evacuated in the cyclone-hit southern districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Gajapati and Rayagada.

Addressing the media after a review meeting with Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan via video conference, Odisha Chief Secretary Anu Garg said, “We have prepared area-specific plans to face the emergency situation in view of the impending cyclone. We are monitoring the health of around 3,000 pregnant women. They will be shifted to a safer place if the situation warrants.”

The Center has assured to send additional disaster response forces and provide assistance to the Army and Navy if the situation worsens, she said.

Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Pravakar Patil said the state has 135 permanent cyclone shelters in vulnerable areas and 1,600 temporary shelters have been made available.

Eight teams of NDRF, 40 teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and fire service personnel have been deployed across the districts.

“We are in constant touch with the Chhattisgarh government. When the cyclone turns towards Chhattisgarh, it will unleash heavy rain. This will disperse the Mahanadi river. As we are around the full moon, releasing water into the sea would not be so easy. We need to have a plan ready to release the water,” said Suresh Pujari, State Revenue and Disaster Minister.

“Very strong cyclonic storm”

On Monday, the cyclonic storm extended over the central-west and adjoining east-central Bay of Bengal, about 520 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha, 540 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 620 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 720 km east of 720 km east of 720 km east of Machilimpatna Bapatla and 680 km northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands.

The IMD said it will move west-northwest, intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal by Monday evening and intensify further to form a “very severe cyclonic storm” by Tuesday. Then, moving northwest, the system will cross the coast near Yanam as a “very strong cyclonic storm”.

Published – 26 Oct 2026 22:39 IST