Published Oct 27, 2026 | 9:04 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2026 | 9:05 PM
CM Naidu advised residents of coastal and flood-prone areas to move to cyclone shelters.
Synopsis: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu urged residents to stay indoors and move to cyclone shelters ahead of Cyclone Arnab’s expected landfall on October 28. Authorities evacuated 84,396 people, set up 290 shelters and placed emergency response teams on standby amid forecasts of heavy rainfall, strong winds and possible flooding.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday, October 27, appealed to the public to remain indoors ahead of Cyclone Arnab’s expected landfall in the early hours of October 28. He advised residents of coastal and flood-prone areas to move to cyclone shelters and urged people to postpone travel plans considering the possibility of strong winds and heavy rainfall.
Addressing a press conference at the camp office, Naidu said the state government machinery was on high alert to tackle the impact of the cyclone. He said all precautionary measures were being taken to prevent loss of life and property. He explained the cyclone’s likely impact, relief measures, and the preparedness of various departments. Although the cyclone falls under the ‘Red Category’, he advised people not to panic and remain vigilant.
Naidu said the impact of the cyclone would be felt from Srikakulam to Bapatla, with the possibility of heavy rainfall and strong winds extending from West Godavari and Krishna districts to North Andhra. He noted that the cyclone was likely to make landfall at Yanam, near Kakinada. He added that rainfall had already begun in North Andhra on Tuesday morning and that coastal districts were likely to receive rain from Tuesday night through October 28.
The chief minister said the cyclone’s impact could be severe in areas such as Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, Manyam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Kakinada. Forecasts indicated extremely heavy rainfall in some regions, with estimates suggesting up to 30 cm of rain in Srikakulam district, 28 cm in West Godavari, and 23 cm in Visakhapatnam. Several other areas are also likely to receive more than 10 cm of rainfall.
Naidu warned of the danger of seawater surging into low-lying areas along the coast. He urged people living in coastal villages, island villages (Lankalu), and low-lying regions to move to safer locations. He advised people to cancel unnecessary travel and remain indoors, warning them against venturing into areas with strong water flows.
Also Read: Andhra Pradesh shifts 2,838 pregnant women ahead of Cyclone Arnab, cancels doctors’ leave
The CM informed that 290 shelters had been set up to accommodate people evacuated from cyclone-prone areas, adding that 84,396 people had been moved to safe locations so far. State- and district-level control rooms were operating round the clock to monitor the situation and issue cyclone warning bulletins every hour. Alert warnings had been issued according to the severity of the cyclone in high-risk zones, he said.
Prioritising the safety of fishermen, Naidu said more than 30,000 boats had been called back from the sea. He added that 93 boats from the state and their crew members were safe in Gopalpur, Odisha. A total of 1,316 ambulances had been kept on standby to handle medical emergencies. In addition, approximately 5,000 pregnant women had been moved to Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and nearby hospitals.
To ensure an uninterrupted drinking water supply during the cyclone, water tankers and generators had been kept ready. Naidu said 8,400 personnel were on standby to carry out immediate restoration work in the event of power disruptions. Anticipating that around 15,000 electric poles could be uprooted by the cyclone, the government had made advance arrangements for repairs, including the replacement of damaged poles.
In view of the heavy rainfall, Naidu said flooding was possible in the Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers. Water inflows in streams and rivulets across various districts were being continuously monitored. Relevant departments had been alerted to carry out immediate repairs in the event of breaches in tanks and lakes. Arrangements had also been made to use drones to deliver food and medicines to people in inundated villages.
Also Read: Cyclone Arnab to cross Andhra coast near Yanam on 28 October; State steps up preparations
Essential commodities were being arranged for distribution to children and lactating mothers through Anganwadi centres, while arrangements had also been made for ration distribution. Steps had also been initiated to store rainwater from catchment areas in reservoirs.
The chief minister said the government was also assessing the cyclone’s likely impact on the agricultural sector. Crops across approximately 7.16 lakh hectares and horticultural crops across 16 lakh hectares are likely to be affected, he said. Technology was being used to assess the situation and minimise losses.
The Chief Minister said preliminary estimates suggested that Cyclone Arnab might be less intense than Cyclone Hudhud. However, he said the government was taking no chances, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Navy, and Coast Guard placed on high alert. He also said he would continue reviewing the ground-level situation with district collectors throughout Tuesday night.
Naidu urged residents of coastal villages to remain especially vigilant and strictly follow instructions issued by officials. He assured them that relief and restoration operations would continue uninterrupted until the impact of the cyclone had completely subsided.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
