Cyclone Arnab Update: Thousands Evacuated, 61 Trains Cancelled, Flights Diverted

Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab is closing in on the Andhra Pradesh coast, prompting mass evacuations, transport cancellations and emergency preparations across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the storm was about 220 km from Visakhapatnam and 240 km from Kakinada at 8.30 am on Tuesday, October 27, and is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts near Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, by Wednesday forenoon.

The IMD has forecast winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph, and issued a red alert for Andhra Pradesh. Authorities have shut beaches, suspended fishing and placed rescue teams on standby as the storm approaches.

Nearly 89,000 People to Be Moved to Relief Camps in Kakinada

Authorities are preparing to relocate nearly 89,000 people along the Kakinada coast to 101 relief camps. In the Visakhapatnam district, officials have identified 37 villages across 11 mandals where 10,176 households could be affected.

The district administration has prepared 54 relief camps with a combined capacity of 31,405 people.

Bheemunipatnam has the highest number of households at risk, with 4,120 households across six villages. Gopalapatnam follows with 2,080 households in six villages, while Gajuwaka has 1,438 households across three villages.

The other areas identified include Seethammadhara, with 900 households; Visakhapatnam Rural, 672; Maharanipeta, 550; Pendurthi, 220; Pedagantyada, 100; Anandapuram, 37; Padmanabham, 30; and Mulagada, 29. Gajuwaka has the largest number of relief camps, with 10.

Odisha is also preparing to evacuate around 48,000 people across eight districts as the cyclone threatens the region with strong winds and heavy rain.

61 Trains Cancelled; Flights Diverted

Rail services have been disrupted as a precautionary measure, with at least 61 trains cancelled, most of them operating through the Godavari-Krishna delta.

South Central Railway has cancelled 11 trains scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. The affected services include three trains connecting Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Mahbubnagar with Visakhapatnam, as well as services from Lingampalli to Kakinada Town, Kakinada Port and Narasapur.

The Secunderabad-Howrah and Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar New trains have also been cancelled, along with the Charlapalli-Srikakulam Road special and its return service.

The Nagarsol-Narasapur train will operate only up to Charlapalli. Passengers have been advised to check their train status before leaving for stations.

At Visakhapatnam airport, four flights have been cancelled and four diverted.

Visakhapatnam Beaches Shut, Police Step Up Patrols

All beaches in Visakhapatnam have been closed, with police patrolling coastal areas to prevent people from entering the water, District Collector Abhishikth Kishore said on Tuesday.

Reviewing cyclone preparations with officials through a teleconference, Kishore said five trees that had fallen in the city were cleared promptly. Power supply disruptions at four locations were also restored soon after.

Jharkhand Braces for Three Days of Heavy Rain

Cyclone Arnab is expected to bring heavy rainfall to parts of Jharkhand for three days from Wednesday, October 28. The state government has directed district administrations to remain alert.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert for heavy rain in Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsawan and East and West Singhbhum for the 24 hours from 8.30 am on Wednesday.

For the following 24 hours, beginning at 8.30 am on October 29, heavy rain is also likely in Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Khunti, Saraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum.

An orange alert is in force until 8.30 am on October 30 for Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum, where heavier rainfall is expected. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also likely over the three-day period.

Cyclone Expected to Cross Coast on Wednesday

According to the IMD's bulletin based on observations at 5.30 am on Tuesday, Arnab was over the west-central Bay of Bengal, around 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. The system had moved nearly westwards at about 22 kmph during the preceding six hours.

The storm was expected to continue west-northwestwards until Tuesday evening before turning northwestwards towards the coast. The IMD's earlier bulletin forecast sustained winds of 115–125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, during landfall.

With the cyclone expected to cross the coast on Wednesday morning, authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are continuing evacuation, relief and emergency-response preparations.