Published Oct 27, 2026 | 7:35 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 27, 2026 | 7:35 AM
At 11.30 pm IST, its centre was near latitude 15.9°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 350 km south-east of Visakhapatnam.
Synopsis: Cyclone Arnab has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam by 11.30 am on Wednesday, 28 October, with winds reaching 125 kmph and gusts up to 140 kmph. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to move vulnerable residents to shelters, deploy disaster response teams, protect crops and essential services, and manage anticipated flood inflows into reservoirs.
The Andhra Pradesh government has stepped up preparations for Cyclone Arnab, which is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, by the morning of Wednesday, 28 October.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its advisory issued on Monday evening that Arnab had intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast in several districts on 28 and 29 October, with winds reaching 115–125 kmph and gusts up to 140 kmph.
At 11.30 pm IST, its centre was near latitude 15.9°N and longitude 86.0°E, about 350 km south-east of Visakhapatnam and 420 km east-south-east of Kakinada.
The storm was moving west-northwestwards at 23 kmph. The IMD forecast that it would continue in that direction until Tuesday afternoon before turning north-westwards and crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts close to Yanam by 11.30 am IST on Wednesday.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to evacuate residents of low-lying and flood-prone areas to cyclone relief shelters, mobilise rescue teams and take measures to minimise damage to life, property and crops.
At a virtual review meeting with senior officials and district collectors on Monday, Naidu instructed the administration to issue weather bulletins and public warnings every four hours, based on the cyclone’s movement.
The IMD has forecast heavy to extremely heavy rain in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts and regions.
Naidu directed officials to prioritise the evacuation of elderly people, persons with disabilities, pregnant women and infants. Officials told him that arrangements were being made to move 4,711 identified pregnant women to primary health centres, community health centres and hospitals.
Medical teams and ambulances are to be kept ready in the affected districts. Seven National Disaster Response Force teams and eight State Disaster Response Force teams are to be deployed across 11 districts, with additional forces on standby in NTR and Visakhapatnam districts. The administration has also been directed to coordinate with the Marine Police, Navy and Coast Guard for rescue and relief operations.
Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast in several districts.
Officials said all fishermen who had ventured into the sea had returned safely to the coast and 30,043 boats had reached harbours. Naidu directed authorities to prevent fishermen from resuming fishing until the cyclone weakened and sea conditions returned to normal.
The Agriculture Department has been asked to move harvested paddy to safe locations and alert farmers growing horticultural crops across about 1.82 lakh hectares to take protective measures.
Naidu also directed officials to maintain adequate stocks of essential commodities at ration shops and restore electricity supply immediately wherever it is disrupted. District collectors have been asked to assess the likely impact in their jurisdictions and decide on holidays for educational institutions wherever necessary.
The Chief Minister instructed officials to draw on lessons from previous cyclones while issuing timely warnings to farmers and the public.
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Officials expect heavy rain to bring flood inflows into reservoirs across 22 catchment areas. Naidu directed them to take steps to store 10,000–12,000 million cubic feet (TMC) of water from the anticipated inflows.
The Thandava, Raiwada, Yeleru, Tammileru, Errakalva and Tadipudi reservoirs are expected to reach their full reservoir levels, officials said.
Naidu directed officials to keep streams, drains and canals clear to allow floodwater to flow freely and to monitor the situation closely. He also instructed district collectors to take strict action against attempts to spread misinformation about the cyclone and its impact on social media.
Chief Secretary Sai Prasad, Minister Ramanaidu, officials of the Real Time Governance Society and the Disaster Management Department, and representatives of other departments attended the virtual review meeting.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
