Cyclone Arnab turns severe; 89,000 being evacuated on Kakinada coast, 53 trains cancelled

Cyclone Arnab strengthened into a severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal on Monday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. As The Indian Idiot reported earlier, the storm is expected to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, and districts along the coast have now started moving people out of its path.

At 5:30 pm, the storm was about 490 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 560 km east-southeast of Kakinada. “It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm over the same region during next 12 hours,” the IMD said in a post on X. It expects Arnab to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of 28 October, with sustained winds of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph.

In Kakinada district, at least 89,000 people living along the coast are being moved to 101 relief camps, The Hindu reported. The entire population of Hope Island, 130 people, was shifted to Kakinada city on Monday. In neighbouring Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, residents of 67 villages are being moved to relief camps and 88 pregnant women have been shifted to government hospitals.

Fishing boats have been called back. “More than 4,602 boats that ventured into the sea from the Kakinada coast were returned to the Kakinada fishing harbour and fish landing centres safely,” Kakinada District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad said. No fishing boats were at sea on Monday, according to The Hindu.

“Alternative arrangements for power are being made in Kakinada Government General Hospital and a two-day holiday has been declared for all educational institutions from Tuesday,” Prasad said. One battalion each of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is due on the Kakinada coast on Tuesday.

Across the state, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered evacuations from low-lying areas in 14 districts, from Srikakulam to Nellore, The Indian Express reported. Officials said 4,711 pregnant women living in vulnerable areas have been moved to health centres and hospitals, and seven NDRF and eight SDRF teams have been deployed. The state has also released ₹27 crore to 20 districts for preparedness and relief, Times Now reported.

Schools and colleges in several coastal districts, including Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Konaseema, will be closed from Tuesday. “Students residing in hostels are instructed to consult with their warden or chief warden and strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD),” a government circular said.

Train travel will be hit too. South Coast Railway has cancelled 53 trains and set up 24-hour war rooms. “In view of the imminent Cyclone ARNAB and in the interest of passenger safety, Indian Railways decided to cancel/Short Termination/Short Origination of several coaching trains,” the railways said. Passengers have been advised to check official announcements before travelling.

In Odisha, the state government has banned fishing in the sea and stopped tourists from visiting hills, waterfalls and dams in six southern districts: Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has sent eight ministers to oversee preparations.