Cyclone Arnab: Very severe storm nears Odisha, Andhra coast, rescue teams readied

As Cyclone Arnab gathered strength over the Bay of Bengal, intensifying into a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday morning, authorities along the eastern coast moved into preparedness mode ahead of its expected landfall near Puducherry’s Yanam by the forenoon of October 28.

With sustained winds of 115-125 kmph and gusts of up to 140 kmph forecast, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are stepping up evacuations, closing educational institutions in vulnerable areas and mobilising rescue teams to protect residents and limit damage.

The storm, which



was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 2.30 am on Tuesday, moved west-northwestwards at 25 kmph over the preceding six hours.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said it was likely to continue moving in that direction until Tuesday evening before turning northwestwards and crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts.

The National Crisis Management Committee, chaired by Cabinet Secretary TV Somanathan, reviewed preparedness measures, while Indian Railways cancelled 53 trains as a precaution ahead of the landfall.