Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu orders round-the-clock vigilance, while disaster response teams stand ready and thousands of fishing boats return safely to shore ahead of the cyclone’s expected landfall.
Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh has stepped up its emergency preparedness after Cyclone Arnab intensified over the Bay of Bengal, with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directing officials to prioritise public safety, minimise property damage and ensure the swift restoration of essential services.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the deep depression over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal intensified into Cyclonic Storm Arnab on October 26. The system is expected to strengthen further, potentially becoming a very severe cyclonic storm by October 27.
The cyclone is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph and gusts reaching 140 kmph, according to the forecast cited in the reports.
Naidu has reportedly instructed district administrations to establish control rooms, issue regular public warnings and coordinate emergency response operations. He directed officials to release cyclone bulletins every four hours and ensure that coastal residents are moved to safer locations whenever necessary. Authorities have also been asked to ensure that fishing boats return to shore and that pregnant women in vulnerable areas are shifted to hospitals in advance.
A total of 21 disaster response teams, comprising 10 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 11 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams, have been kept ready for rescue and relief operations.
The IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in north Andhra Pradesh and central coastal districts on October 27 and 28, with isolated locations potentially receiving exceptionally heavy rainfall. Residents have been advised to avoid fallen electrical wires and report emergencies through the toll-free helpline 1912.
Fishing activity along the Kakinada coast has also been suspended as a precaution. More than 4,800 fishing boats have returned safely from the Bay of Bengal and anchored at Kakinada fishing harbour and other landing centres, including Uppada-Ameenabad and Kumbhabhishekam.
The Fisheries Department, Indian Coast Guard and district authorities have urged fishermen not to venture into the sea until further instructions.
Beyond Andhra Pradesh, Odisha has stepped up preparations, with Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi assigning eight ministers to vulnerable districts. Meanwhile, rainfall continues in parts of Tamil Nadu under the active northeast monsoon, with the IMD forecasting further showers through October 27.
Authorities across the affected states are focusing on timely warnings, evacuation preparedness and the protection of lives and essential infrastructure as Cyclone Arnab approaches the eastern coastline.
