New Delhi/Amaravati: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab moved closer to the Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday, prompting large-scale evacuations, transport disruptions, and emergency preparedness across several states. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone was positioned around 170 km from Visakhapatnam and 180 km from Kakinada by late morning and is expected to make landfall near the Yanam–Kakinada coast on Wednesday forenoon. The storm is forecast to bring sustained winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph, accompanied by torrential rainfall, dangerous storm surges, and widespread damage to infrastructure, crops, and power networks. Authorities have issued red alerts for several coastal districts, while beaches have been closed and fishermen have been ordered to stay away from the sea.

Emergency response agencies have intensified rescue and relief operations as thousands of residents from vulnerable coastal villages are shifted to safer locations. Nearly 89,000 people are being evacuated in Andhra Pradesh, while Odisha has launched a parallel evacuation drive for 48,000 residents. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 31 teams across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, and Yanam to assist local authorities. Sea water has already inundated low-lying areas near Kakinada, road connectivity has been disrupted in some coastal villages, and authorities are warning of storm surges of up to 1.5 metres along parts of the East Godavari coastline. The IMD has cautioned that thatched houses could be completely destroyed, communication and electricity networks may suffer extensive damage, and standing crops could face severe losses.

The approaching cyclone has also caused major disruptions to transportation across eastern and southern India. Dozens of flights to and from Visakhapatnam have been cancelled or diverted, including services from Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai, while more than 60 train services have been suspended across Andhra Pradesh due to safety concerns. Railways have deployed emergency repair teams and placed hundreds of kilometres of railway tracks under continuous monitoring. The impact of Cyclone Arnab is expected to extend beyond Andhra Pradesh, with heavy rainfall alerts issued for Odisha, Telangana, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Nepal, where authorities have also issued weather warnings and emergency advisories ahead of the storm’s arrival.