Three IndiGo flights between Chennai and Andhra Pradesh have been cancelled on Tuesday because of Cyclone Arnab, Chennai airport said. They are 6E 2698 from Chennai to Visakhapatnam (due to leave at 4 p.m.), 6E 7305 from Chennai to Vijayawada (7.05 p.m.) and 6E 731 from Visakhapatnam to Chennai (due to arrive at 8 p.m.). 

Cyclone Arnab could push sea water 1 to 1.5 metres above normal into low-lying coastal areas, with East Godavari district likely to see the highest surge, India Meteorological Department Director-General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra told ANI on Tuesday. The sea is already “phenomenal”, with waves up to 14 metres high, making it unsafe for ships and boats.

Winds of 125 to 135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph, could damage paddy and horticulture crops on a large scale and disrupt power and communication lines, he said. 

Bad weather from Cyclone Arnab has disrupted flights at the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport serving Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. IndiGo said its flights to and from the city had been affected. 

As of noon, the airport’s flight page showed these changes:

Cancelled

• IX 2401, Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam (due 11.35 a.m.)
• IX 2402, Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad (12.10 p.m.)
• IX 2023, Bengaluru to Visakhapatnam (5.50 p.m.)
• IX 2403, Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam (7 p.m.)

Diverted

• 6E 879, Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam (12.20 p.m.)
• 6E 7273, Bengaluru to Visakhapatnam (1.15 p.m.)
• 6E 6645, Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad (12.50 p.m.)
• 6E 7274, Visakhapatnam to Kurnool (1.35 p.m.)

Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha visited Revupolavaram, a coastal village in Anakapalli district, on Tuesday and urged fishermen not to go into the sea. She also spoke to people who had been moved to a relief centre in the village.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 31 teams in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Yanam for Cyclone Arnab, NDRF Deputy Inspector-General Mohsen Shahedi told ANI. Andhra Pradesh has 12 teams, Odisha nine, Chhattisgarh four, Telangana three and Yanam two. State response teams are also on the ground, including 60 in Odisha and about 11 in Andhra Pradesh.

Evacuations are under way in low-lying areas that could flood, cyclone shelters with basic amenities have been identified, and medical teams are ready, he said. The aim is to keep the cyclone free of casualties.

The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain at isolated places in Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, ASR, Anakapalli and Kakinada districts till 4 p.m. on Tuesday. By 1 p.m., parts of Visakhapatnam Rural had recorded about 58 mm since morning. Kakinada and Konaseema, where the cyclone is expected to cross the coast, have had little rain so far.

Some of the busiest long-distance trains linking Hyderabad with coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are off on Tuesday. They include the Godavari Express and the Garib Rath to Visakhapatnam, the Gowthami and Cocanada Expresses to Kakinada, the Falaknuma Express to Howrah and the Nagavalli Express from Nanded to Sambalpur.

Passengers have been asked to check the status of their trains before setting out, since more changes may follow depending on the weather.

The rain on Tuesday did not stop the campaign for the November 1 local body polls in Visakhapatnam. YSRCP candidate B. Vijaya Lakshmi went round Ward 40 at One Town in a raincoat with former MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar.

Cyclone Arnab was about 170 km out at sea from Visakhapatnam and 180 km from Kakinada at 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, the IMD said. It has come about 50 km closer since 8.30 a.m. and is moving towards the coast at 20 kmph.

About 600 km of railway track in the Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam divisions is under close watch ahead of Cyclone Arnab, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in a post on X on Tuesday. War rooms are working round the clock at the zone, division and Railway Board levels, and senior officials are on site.

Relief wagons with repair material have been placed at Krishna Canal, Bitragunta, Mamidipudi, Visakhapatnam, Palasa and Ponduru. Diesel locomotives, power units and ambulances are on standby at key junctions, and earthmovers and tree cutters are positioned along the route. Wind speed and water levels are being checked every hour, he said.

Nepal has put the country on high alert from Thursday to Saturday. Cyclone Arnab is expected to bring heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds there after it crosses the Indian coast, its disaster management authority said. Koshi, Bagmati, Madhesh, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces are likely to be hit hardest on Friday and Saturday.

The high hills and Himalayan areas face a risk of heavy snow, snowstorms and avalanches. Tourists have been told not to travel there during the alert, and those already in these areas to stay in safe places. People living along riverbanks have been warned of possible flooding.

Cyclone Arnab is at its strongest out at sea now. The IMD’s forecast table shows winds of 150 to 160 kmph, gusting to 180 kmph, around midday and evening on Tuesday, while the storm is still over the Bay of Bengal.

It should ease a little before it reaches land close to Yanam early on Wednesday, the winds are forecast at 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph.

By Wednesday evening its winds should drop below 100 kmph. By Thursday morning it will be a deep depression, and by Friday evening little more than a low-pressure area over central India.

Odisha plans to move at least 48,000 people from low-lying and landslide-prone areas to safety by Tuesday evening, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P. Patil told PTI. Gajapati and Nabarangpur districts account for about 11,000 each. The State has readied 135 permanent cyclone shelters and about 1,600 temporary ones, deployed 294 rescue teams and closed schools in eight districts on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Winds of 40 to 50 kmph are likely from Tuesday night, rising to 60 to 70 kmph, gusting to 80 kmph, from early Wednesday in the southern districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri, the IMD said. It has forecast heavy to very heavy rain of 12 to 20 cm in Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.

A large tree fell across National Highway 16 on the Tuni-Anakapalli stretch near Regupalan junction in Anakapalli district on Tuesday, blocking traffic. The district police and highway patrol staff cleared it, and vehicles are moving freely again. No one was hurt and no vehicle was damaged.

All beaches in Visakhapatnam have been closed, and the police are patrolling to stop people from going into the water, Collector Abhishikth Kishore said on Tuesday.

Five trees that fell in the city were cleared quickly, and power cut at four places was restored soon after, he said after reviewing preparations with officials by teleconference. 

Rising sea waves have flooded coastal stretches of Uppada, Konapapet and Moolapet in Kakinada district on Tuesday, disrupting traffic on the roads that connect Uppada and nearby villages to Kakinada.

The waves have pushed towards houses near the shore, worrying residents of Uppada, Konapapet, Moolapet, Subbampet and the villages around them.

South Central Railway has cancelled 11 trains on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) and Wednesday because of Cyclone Arnab. They include three services from Hyderabad, Secunderabad and Mahbubnagar to Visakhapatnam, trains from Lingampalli to Kakinada Town, Kakinada Port and Narasapur, and the Secunderabad-Howrah and Secunderabad-Bhubaneswar New trains.

The Charlapalli-Srikakulam Road special and its return service are also cancelled. The Nagarsol-Narasapur train will run only up to Charlapalli. Passengers have been asked to check their train status before setting out.

The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has issued helpline numbers for people who need help during the cyclone.

State control room (emergency): 112, 1070, 1800 425 0101 “Mana Mitra” WhatsApp service: 9552300009

District control rooms

• Srikakulam: 08942240557
• Vizianagaram: 8922236947
• Parvathipuram Manyam: 08963450347
• Alluri Sitharama Raju: 8935293448
• Visakhapatnam: 0891-2590102, 0891-2590100
• Anakapalli: 08924-222888, 08924-226599, 08924-225999
• Kakinada: 0884-2356801, 9849903879
• Konaseema: 8856293104
• East Godavari: 8832944455
• West Godavari: 08816-299181
• Eluru: 18002331077, 9494041419
• Polavaram: 18004254225
• Tirupati: 0877 2236007
• Markapuram: 9248702500
• Krishna: 08672 252399
• NTR: 9154970454
• Guntur: 0863-2234014
• Bapatla: 08643-220226
• Prakasam: 08592 295600, 18004250277
• Nellore: 7995576699

-- The Hindu Bureau

Four Air India Express flights between Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad and Bengaluru have been cancelled on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), and four IndiGo flights have been diverted, according to the flight information page of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport at noon. Several other flights later in the day are not shown as operating.

The airport has advised passengers to check their flight status with the airline before leaving home, to allow extra time for the journey and to contact their airline directly to reschedule or cancel. Flight status is also available on the airport’s website.

-- The Hindu Bureau

The Chhattisgarh government has put all district Collectors on alert for heavy to extremely heavy rain on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) and Thursday under the influence of Cyclone Arnab, officials said on Tuesday.

The southern Bastar region, including Bijapur, Sukma, Dantewada, Bastar and Narayanpur districts, is expected to face strong winds. Relief camps have been told to stay open round the clock, NDRF and SDRF teams are on standby, and health officials have been asked to list pregnant women in case they need to be moved to safety.

-- PTI

Cyclone Arnab could cause heavy damage to farm and horticulture crops and to livestock, K. Nagaratna, Director of the IMD in Amaravati, told ANI on Tuesday. Rail, road and air services were also likely to be affected, she said, and onshore and offshore activities would need to be reviewed and suspended.

Fishermen have been told not to go into the sea on Tuesday and Wednesday, she said. The storm is likely to cross the coast near Yanam early on Wednesday.

Cyclone Arnab was about 220 km out at sea from Visakhapatnam and 240 km from Kakinada at 8.30 a.m. on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. It moved towards the coast at 20 kmph in the six hours before that.

The IMD now expects winds of 125 to 135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph, when the cyclone crosses the coast close to Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, by Wednesday forenoon. Its earlier forecast was 115 to 125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.

The sea was rough to very rough along the Visakhapatnam coast on Tuesday morning. High waves hit the beach and the fishing harbour.

The railways have cancelled at least 61 trains because of Cyclone Arnab, going by the lists released so far. Fifty-three of them are passenger and MEMU services on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) and Wednesday linking Vijayawada with Machilipatnam, Gudivada, Narasapur, Bhimavaram, Rajahmundry, Kakinada Port, Guntur and Repalle. That is the delta region closest to where the cyclone is expected to cross. Services between Kakinada Port and Visakhapatnam, and between Visakhapatnam and Parvatipuram, are also off on both days.

On the hill route out of Visakhapatnam, the Visakhapatnam-Kirandul passenger train to Araku and the Visakhapatnam-Koraput passenger are cancelled till October 30 or 31. The Visakhapatnam-Kirandul Night Express is off for a week, from October 29 to November 4.

-- The Hindu Bureau

Palasa and Mandasa in Srikakulam district got the most rain in Andhra Pradesh between 8.30 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Tuesday (October 27, 2026). A gauge in Palasa recorded nearly 25 mm in those two and a half hours, according to the A.P. Directorate of Economics and Statistics (APDES).

Visakhapatnam city also got steady rain. Maharanipeta saw about 15 mm.

The strongest winds blew in places that had no rain. Winds reached 39 kmph at Chilamannuru in Tirupati district and about 38 kmph at Ramaraja Palem in ASR district. Kotabommali in Srikakulam had both rain and wind, APDES data show.

These are early figures and will rise through the day.

-- The Hindu Bureau

Cyclone Arnab is likely to bring heavy rain to parts of West Bengal from Wednesday (October 28, 2026) to Friday, the IMD said on Tuesday.

In south Bengal, heavy rain is likely in South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Bardhaman on October 28 and 29. Kolkata is likely to get light to moderate rain over the next 48 hours, IMD said. In the north, heavy rain is expected in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri on October 29 and 30.

Fishermen have been told not to go to sea until October 29. Winds of 40 to 50 kmph, gusting to 60 kmph, are likely along and off the West Bengal coast.

-- PTI

Cyclone Arnab is expected to bring heavy rain to parts of Jharkhand for three days from Wednesday (October 28, 2026), and the State government has asked district administrations to stay alert.

The IMD has issued a yellow alert (be updated) for heavy rain in Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsawan and East and West Singhbhum districts for 24 hours from 8.30 a.m. on Wednesday. Heavy rain is also likely in Chatra, Koderma, Hazaribag, Ramgarh, Ranchi, Khunti, Saraikela-Kharsawan and East Singhbhum for 24 hours from 8.30 a.m. on October 29.

The rain is expected to get heavier after that. An orange alert (be prepared) is in force for Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega and West Singhbhum till 8.30 a.m. on October 30. Thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds are also likely over the three days.

-- PTI

Bapatla Collector V. Vinod Kumar has set up a 24-hour control room to respond to emergencies during the cyclone. People can also send their location on the WhatsApp helpline so that help can reach them.

• District control room: 08643-220226
• WhatsApp helpline: 8712417880
• APCPDCL Bapatla Circle: 92814 13774
• APCPDCL Bapatla division: 94910 52945
• APCPDCL Repalle division: 94408 17597
• RDO office, Repalle: 08648-293795, 94407 80426
• RDO office, Chirala: 87126 55910
• RDO office, Bapatla: 94938 03524

-- The Hindu Bureau

Odisha government plans to evacuate 48,000 people to safer place in southern Odisha districts as the cyclonic storm “Arnab” is nearing coast on Tuesday (October 27, 2026). -- Satyasundar Barik

As very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” closes in on the Andhra Pradesh coast, the district administration has identified 37 villages in 11 mandals where 10,176 households are likely to be affected. It has readied 54 relief camps that can together accommodate 31,405 people, according to details provided by the district administration.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin based on 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday that the system lay over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. It moved nearly westwards at 22 kmph during the preceding six hours. It is expected to move west-northwest until Tuesday evening, then turn northwestwards. 

It is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday (October 28, 2026) forenoon as a very severe cyclonic storm. Maximum sustained wind speed is forecast at 115 to 125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph. The IMD has issued a red alert for Andhra Pradesh.

Bheemunipatnam has the largest number of households at risk, 4,120 in six villages, followed by Gopalapatnam (2,080 in six villages) and Gajuwaka (1,438 in three). The other mandals are Seethammadhara (900 households), Visakhapatnam Rural (672), Maharanipeta (550), Pendurthi (220), Pedagantyada (100), Anandapuram (37), Padmanabham (30) and Mulagada (29). Gajuwaka has the most relief camps, at 10. -- The Hindu Bureau

In view of the orange alert issued for NTR district due to the ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’ Arnab, municipal authorities in Vijayawada have begun taking down large hoardings and alerting people living in the low-lying areas near the Budameru rivulet about a possible downpour.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the district on October 27 and 28. A two-day holiday has been announced for schools in NTR district.

At Indrakeeladri in the city, which shelters the famous Goddess Kanaka Durga temple, the ghat roads have been closed to traffic on October 27, as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of devotees. The temple area often witnesses rockslides, the latest being reported last month. -- The Hindu Bureau

South Coast Railway has cancelled seven MEMU passenger train services operating in the Vijayawada, Guntur and Repalle sections on October 27 and 28 as a precautionary measure in view of the impending cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’.

According to a press release issued by Guntur Division, train No. 67247, operating from Narasapur to Guntur, has been cancelled on October 27.

Six other services scheduled for October 28 have also been cancelled. They are train No. 67229 from Vijayawada to Guntur, 67223 from Guntur to Repalle, 67224 from Repalle to Tenali, 67249 from Guntur to Repalle, 67250 from Repalle to Guntur and 67248 from Guntur to Vijayawada.

The cancellations have been announced in view of safety precautions and operational adjustments necessitated by the approaching cyclone. -- The Hindu Bureau

Rain lashed parts of Khordha district on Tuesday (October 27, 2026), bringing a change in weather as Cyclone Arnab approaches. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.

As a precautionary measure, tourist boat and ferry services in Chilika Lake have been suspended from October 26 to 29 to ensure public safety. Local authorities are monitoring the situation across coastal areas and water bodies.Speaking to ANI, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) Barkul Manager Sabyasachi Kara said precautionary measures had been taken as weather conditions began to deteriorate on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) morning.

“All boats are in safe positions. Boat operations have been suspended for three days. All staff are on high alert, and all precautionary measures have been taken. We have a total of 10 boats, of which three are currently non-operational. All the boats have been secured in safe locations,” Kara said.

He added that heavy rainfall and strong winds had prompted the authorities to remain vigilant.

“It is raining heavily, and the winds have picked up significantly. The weather began to deteriorate this morning. I am currently near the OTDC jetty complex (OTDC Water Sports Complex), where our staff are present to monitor the situation and ensure that all precautionary measures to safeguard our boats are in place,” he said. -- ANI

As cyclone ‘Arnab’ is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, heavy rainfall is expected in north coastal districts, the APSDMA said on Tuesday (October 27, 2026).

According to the IMD, the storm moved west-northwestwards at a speed of 25 kmph during the preceding six hours and lay centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 2.30 am on Tuesday.

“Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts near Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, by the forenoon of October 28,” it said.

The system was located about 300 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, 360 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 380 km south of Gopalpur in Odisha, 460 km east of Machilipatnam, 530 km east of Bapatla and 920 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, a release said. -- PTI

The Kakinada coast is in the grip of fear as the coast is bracing to face very severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ on October 28 which marks the anniversary of severe cyclonic storm Montha that hit the same coast on the midnight of October 29, 2025.

The cyclone Montha made a landfall near Narsapuram, leaving Kakinada and Konaseema coastal belts in a trail of destruction, impacting scores of fisherfolk villages and villages in the Godavari delta. 

It claimed two lives apart from damaging the standing paddy crop. By Tuesday (October 27, 2026), nearly 89,000 people inhabiting the Kakinada coast will be shifted to 101 relief camps. In Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema District, 67 villages and Yanam town of Pondicherry territory, are on the alert. 

What stands between the impact of the storm and coast and could minimize the damages relief on the magnanimity of the damages are the Godavari mangroves and Hope Island, a spit formed a century ago in the Kakinada Bay with sediments from Godavari river. They form the natural guardians of the coast from any natural calamity. -- The Hindu Bureau

Srikakulam district has received widespread rain overnight, as the Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) ‘Arnab’ strengthened into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) at around 11.30 p.m. on Monday (October 26, 2026).

According to latest information from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, the system lay centred at 2.30 a.m. over Westcentral Bay of Bengal, at around 300 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam, 360 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 380 km south of Gopalpur of Odisha, 460 km east of Machilipatnam, 530 km east of Bapatla and 920 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram of the Andaman Islands.

Under the potential impact of cyclone ‘Arnab’, unseasonal rain, thunderstorms and strong winds are likely in Uttar Pradesh between October 28 and 31.

According to the forecast, winds are likely to blow at 30 to 40 kilometres per hour on October 28 in Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Ghazipur, and Ballia, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a yellow alert for these districts.

An orange alert has been issued for October 29 due to the possibility of heavy rainfall and strong winds in several districts.

Rainfall is forecast in several areas, including Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Amethi and Sultanpur.

On October 30, heavy rain and strong winds are also likely in Bareilly, Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur, along with several districts of Purvanchal, Awadh, and the Terai region. As a result, daytime temperatures may fall by 5 to 8 degrees Celsius.

In light of the forecast, the Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner’s Office has issued precautionary guidelines for the general public and farmers, with the administration also laying emphasis on relief and rescue preparations, according to an official statement issued on Monday night.

The Relief Commissioner’s Office has urged people to follow weather-related warnings and the administration’s instructions. -- PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered heightened preparedness across the State in view of the threat posed by Cyclone Arnab, which is expected to bring heavy to extremely heavy rainfall. Roads and Buildings (R&B) Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy has directed officials to ensure road safety and an uninterrupted emergency response.

The cyclone is expected to affect 13 districts with heavy rainfall on October 28 and 29. Wind speeds of 115 to 140 kmph are forecast in 12 districts, according to the State government’s assessments.

At least 89,000 people living along the six coastal belts are being evacuated to 101 relief camps in the wake of Cyclone Arnab, expected to cross the coast near Yanam or Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada as a “very severe” cyclonic storm on Wednesday (October 28).

On Monday, the entire Hope Island off the Kakinada coast has been evacuated by rehabilitating 130 inhabitants of the island in Kakinada city. Kakinada Rural, Uppada Kothapalli and Thondangi are the major fisherfolk belts where an alert has been sounded for heavy rain coupled with winds in the next 48 hours and the inhabitants along the shoreline are advised to move to the relief camps. The preparations are in place to provide food and safe drinking water in the relief camps under the aegis of the Revenue Department. 

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Tamil Nadu is in for a brief hiatus from the monsoon wet spell, with rainfall likely to taper off over most parts of the State from Tuesday (October 27, 2026). Most parts of the State may begin to experience largely dry weather till November 1 except for isolated rainfall of moderate intensity over the southern and Western Ghats districts.

The Northeast monsoon, which was in its active phase, brought the much-needed rainfall over the State since its onset in mid-October. Tamil Nadu has recorded an overall rainfall of 21.5 cm, 58% above the monthly average. The State receives an average of 44 cm of rainfall during the entire season.

Andhra Pradesh has experienced 61 cyclonic storms since 1970, but only a few have intensified into Very Severe Cyclonic Storms (VSCS). The State is now bracing for one such storm, Arnab, nearly eight years after Titli struck in October 2018.

According to the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) records of cyclonic storms that affected the Andhra Pradesh coast between 1970 and 2023, the State witnessed 10 Very Severe Cyclonic Storms during the period. Arnab would be the 11th, if it reaches this intensity.

The IMD classifies cyclonic storms based on their maximum sustained wind speeds. A cyclonic storm has wind speeds of 62-88 kmph, a severe cyclonic storm 89-117 kmph, and a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm 118-167 kmph. An Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm has wind speeds of 168-221 kmph, while a Super Cyclonic Storm has wind speeds exceeding 221 kmph.

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Several southern Odisha districts started receiving rain as very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” hurtled towards Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday (October 27, 2026) morning.

As per India Meteorological Department (IMD), the very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” over westcentral Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 25 kmph during past six hours, and lay-centered over the same region 300 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 360 km east-southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 380 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha), 460 km east of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 530 km east of Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh) and 920 km west-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman Islands) on October 27, 2026. -- Satyasundar Barik

The Andhra Pradesh government has directed officials to evacuate people from flood-prone areas, prioritise vulnerable residents, and deploy disaster response teams in the wake of the cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered heightened preparedness across the State, officials said, adding that 4,711 pregnant women will be shifted to safer healthcare facilities. They said 30,043 fishing boats have returned to the harbours.

The Department of Health, Medical and Family Welfare has readied 6,431 emergency beds, 630 medical teams and 716 vehicles as part of its preparedness for the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab.

Health Secretary G. Veerapandian and Health and Family Welfare Commissioner K.V.N. Chakradhar Babu reviewed the preparedness measures during a teleconference with senior officials and district medical authorities on Monday evening.

Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister P. Narayana has directed Municipal Commissioners in cyclone-affected municipalities to remain on high alert and take all necessary measures to protect the public from the impact of severe cyclonic storm Arnab.

During a teleconference with Municipal Commissioners on Monday, attended by senior officials of the Municipal Administration Department, the Minister instructed the authorities to prevent waterlogging in low-lying areas and ensure the effective functioning of drainage systems.

He directed engineering and sanitation staff to take timely measures to clear drains and ensure the smooth flow of rainwater. Officials were asked to remain vigilant and respond promptly to emerging situations.

Panic buying of essential commodities was reported across Visakhapatnam on Monday as Cyclone Arnab barrels towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Arnab is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam-Kakinada, by October 28. The forecast of heavy rainfall and gusty winds reaching up to 140 kmph triggered early-morning rush and panic buying across the coastal city.

Shoppers flocked to markets in large numbers, leaving Rythu Bazaars and open retail counters completely depleted as people rushed to hoard essential commodities ahead of the impending storm.

The eastern coastal states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh closed schools, prohibited sea fishing and kept rescue teams on standby, stepping up precautionary measures ahead of Cyclone Arnab’s expected landfall on Wednesday to ensure “zero loss of life and minimal damage to infrastructure”.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its Monday morning bulletin, said a deep depression over east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal has moved westward and has intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’. -- PTI