Severe cyclone Arnab slams into Andhra coast, triggering red alert across Eastern India
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New Delhi: Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts early on Wednesday, bringing destructive winds and widespread rain to India’s eastern coastline. The India Meteorological Department said the storm carried sustained winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts touching 150 kmph.
Officials said the cyclone is likely to move slowly toward the northwest before gradually changing course toward the north-northwest as it moves inland.
The IMD located the centre of Arnab over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday, close to the Andhra Pradesh coast. It was positioned near 16.3 degrees North and 82.1 degrees East.
At that time, the storm was roughly 50 km from Narsapur, 70 km from Kakinada, 100 km from Machilipatnam, 180 km from Bapatla, and 200 km from Visakhapatnam.
Forecasters expect the cyclone to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near the southern side of Yanam. The department said the system had already begun interacting with land, with outer rain bands pushing into coastal areas.
A Doppler weather radar in Machilipatnam is tracking the cyclone’s movement in real time.
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority Managing Director Prakhar Jain said the landfall process was under way off the state’s coast.
He said the storm’s centre was about 30 km from Narsapur, 55 km from Yanam, 70 km from Kakinada, and 90 km from Machilipatnam.
Jain warned that Kakinada, Konaseema, and West Godavari districts could face powerful gusts of 125–135 kmph within the next three hours. Several parts of the state are also expected to receive intense rainfall.
The IMD has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in parts of Andhra Pradesh and nearby areas, warning that Arnab’s effects could spread well beyond the immediate coastline.
South Odisha is likely to see extremely heavy showers at isolated places on Wednesday, while north Odisha may receive heavy to very heavy rain. Interior Odisha could see heavy rainfall on Thursday.
Eastern Telangana is also under a warning for heavy to very heavy rain at isolated locations on Wednesday. In Jharkhand, heavy rain is expected in places on Wednesday, with heavier showers possible on Thursday.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas to remain alert as conditions are expected to worsen through the day.
(Inputs from IANS)