Cyclone Arnab triggers mass evacuations in Andhra Pradesh
- Tens of thousands are being evacuated in Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Arnab approaches.
- The storm is expected to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on October 28.
- Wind speeds are forecast to reach 125–135 kmph with gusts up to 150 kmph.
- Authorities have cancelled 64 trains and suspended flights at multiple coastal airports.
Tens of thousands of residents are being evacuated across the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Arnab approaches the eastern coast. The storm is currently classified as a very severe cyclonic storm.
The India Meteorological Department expects the cyclone to intensify further with sustained wind speeds of 125 to 135 kmph and gusts up to 150 kmph. This weather system is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on October 28.
Landfall expected between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam
The India Meteorological Department reports that Cyclone Arnab is expected to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, in the early hours of Wednesday. As of 2:30 pm on Tuesday, the storm was positioned approximately 170 km south of Visakhapatnam.
The cyclone will produce sustained wind speeds of 125 to 135 kmph with gusts reaching 150 kmph. Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh are expected to experience extremely heavy rainfall on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Sea conditions are expected to remain rough until at least Thursday morning.
Over 130,000 residents relocated to relief camps
Nearly 89,000 people living along the Kakinada coast in Andhra Pradesh are being relocated to relief camps. Odisha authorities planned to evacuate 48,000 people by Tuesday evening.
The National Disaster Relief Force has deployed 31 teams across affected states, according to Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi.
Shahedi also stated that 11 State Disaster Response Force teams were deployed in Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. In Odisha, 60 teams from the state’s disaster rapid action force have been stationed.
Aviation operations suspended at coastal airports
Flight operations were suspended at Visakhapatnam starting the afternoon of October 27, while operations at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were suspended after 7 pm on the same day. The operator of Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Visakhapatnam stated that heavy rainfall and strong winds may disrupt flights.
Air India Express cancelled 13 flights, primarily connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada, as well as the Varanasi–Bangkok and Bangkok–Visakhapatnam services.
IndiGo suspended all flights at Visakhapatnam and stopped operations at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry after 7 pm on October 27. While all other flights are anticipated to run, Akasa Air has called off its Delhi–Bhogapuram–Delhi service planned for October 28.
Alliance Air is continuing normal operations with no cancellations reported.
Railways cancel 64 trains amid safety monitoring
At least 64 trains scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday were cancelled, according to Scroll.in.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that 600 km of tracks are being closely monitored. Relief wagons containing repair materials have been stationed at multiple locations.
Ministry of Civil Aviation issues safety guidelines
The ministry advised airlines to follow adverse weather guidelines, keep passengers informed, and comply with rebooking and refund norms.
Passengers should check flight status before leaving for the airport and allow extra travel time due to potential road closures and waterlogging in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The Civil Aviation Secretary advised airlines and operators to provide extra assistance to senior citizens, persons with reduced mobility, parents traveling with infants, and passengers with medical needs.
Potential consequential delays may occur in Hyderabad, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur.
Individuals with pending complaints may raise them via the AirSewa portal or application.
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