Cyclone Arnab strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on Monday night. IMD's 11 PM bulletin placed it about 430 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 500 km from Kakinada, moving west-northwest at 18 km/h.
Where and when it will hit
IMD expects landfall on Wednesday (October 28) forenoon between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam. Winds at landfall are forecast at 115–125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h. A storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the normal tide is likely near Kakinada and Yanam.
What the government has done
- ₹27 crore: ₹2 crore each to Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada and Anakapalli, and ₹1 crore each to 13 other districts.
- Rescue teams: 7 NDRF and 8 SDRF teams deployed in affected districts.
- Pregnant women: 4,711 identified women are being moved to hospitals and health centres.
- Fishermen: Officials said 30,043 boats have returned to harbour.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu told officials to move people in low-lying areas to cyclone shelters and shift harvested paddy to safe places. APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain asked people to postpone travel on Tuesday and Wednesday. At the National Crisis Management Committee, Cabinet Secretary T.V. Somanathan asked agencies to ensure zero loss of life.
Trains and helplines
South Coast Railway cancelled 53 trains within Andhra Pradesh for October 27 and 28, and 61 trains in all were cancelled or cut short. Affected routes include Rajahmundry–Vijayawada, Machilipatnam–Vijayawada, Narsapur–Rajahmundry and Kakinada Port–Rajahmundry. Helplines: 112, 1070 and 1800 425 0101.
