Several parts of Andhra Pradesh, particularly the northern districts, have been placed on high alert following heavy rainfall and gusty winds under the influence of Cyclone Arnab. Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts have reportedly been affected, with heavy rain lashing several mandals in Srikakulam and trees being uprooted in Visakhapatnam, causing property damage.
The district administrations in all three districts have been placed on alert. Holidays have been declared for educational institutions, while emergency response teams have been kept on standby to deal emergencies.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab was moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 20 kmph over the west-central Bay of Bengal. At 11:30 am on Tuesday, the storm was centred approximately 170 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 180 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 270 km east of Machilipatnam and 350 km east of Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh. It was also located around 370 km south-southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha.
The system was expected to continue moving west-northwestwards until Tuesday evening before turning northwestwards. According to the forecast, the cyclone was likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon.
At landfall, the storm was forecast to remain a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph.
Flight Services Affected Due to Cyclone
Several flights have been cancelled in view of the cyclone’s severity. Nearly 16 flights scheduled to operate from Bhubaneswar to destinations including Kannur, Tirupati, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Chennai have reportedly been cancelled.
Similarly, six flights operating from Vijayawada International Airport were cancelled on Tuesday. Several services involving Hyderabad were also reported to have been cancelled, including IndiGo flights and an Air India service from Delhi. Passengers have been advised to check with their respective airlines for the latest updates.
Andhra Pradesh Government Steps Up Preparedness
The Andhra Pradesh government has sounded a high alert as the cyclone approaches the coast. The administration has been continuously reviewing the situation and strengthening preparedness measures to ensure public safety and an effective emergency response.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, IT Minister Nara Lokesh and Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha are closely monitoring developments and reviewing the state’s preparedness.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and 10 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed across 14 districts to carry out emergency rescue and relief operations.
As a precautionary measure to protect fishermen, 30,043 fishing boats have been brought ashore. A total of 131 cyclone shelters have also been arranged across 20 districts.
Cyclone alerts are being disseminated to 2.70 crore mobile phones across 18 districts to keep residents informed about evolving weather conditions and safety measures.
Hospitals and Essential Supplies Kept Ready
Hospitals and healthcare facilities have been instructed to remain prepared to handle emergencies, including snakebite cases, which can increase during and after heavy rainfall and flooding. Essential services and medical supplies are also being maintained to minimise disruptions.
The state has arranged 2,613 drinking water tankers, 2,430 generators and 448 reverse osmosis (RO) plants to ensure access to drinking water and maintain essential services during the cyclone.
Adequate stocks of essential commodities, reportedly sufficient for nearly two months, have been stored in 14,686 ration shops across the state.
As part of agricultural preparedness, advisories have been issued to 35.96 lakh farmers, urging them to take precautionary measures to protect their crops from possible damage caused by heavy rainfall and strong winds.