Two states on India’s eastern coast are preparing to move thousands of people to safety before Cyclone Arnab makes landfall on Wednesday morning. Cyclone Arnab evacuation work began on Monday, with Andhra Pradesh identifying 570,000 people as vulnerable and Odisha preparing shelters in low-lying areas.
Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal and strengthened into a cyclonic storm. India’s weather office said the storm is expected to reach the Andhra Pradesh coast by Wednesday morning, with gusts of up to 140 kilometres per hour. The office added that the cyclone will probably grow stronger before landfall.
Heavy to extremely heavy rain is forecast for northern and central coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, and for southern districts of neighbouring Odisha. Andhra Pradesh has called boats at sea back to shore and ordered power teams to be ready to restore supply quickly if lines go down.
A senior Andhra Pradesh disaster management official told Reuters on Monday that the state had identified 570,000 people as vulnerable. Evacuations were set to start on Monday evening. Odisha announced the closure of schools and colleges in five districts for Tuesday and Wednesday, and said it was preparing to move residents of low-lying areas to cyclone shelters.
Cyclone Arnab evacuation scale and state preparations
The scale of the Andhra Pradesh operation sets this storm apart from a routine weather warning. A vulnerable population of 570,000 people cannot be moved at short notice, which is why the state began its work two days before the forecast landfall. Control rooms and relief centres form the backbone of that plan, with district teams tasked to reach coastal and low-lying areas first.
Reporting beyond the initial wire item adds detail to the state response. Andhra Pradesh has placed 10 National Disaster Response Force teams and 11 State Disaster Response Force teams on standby. Odisha has deployed 60 state response teams, 17 national teams and 225 fire service teams. More than 4,800 fishing boats have returned to the Kakinada coast and other harbours after a ban on venturing into rough Bay of Bengal waters.
Those figures matter because they show where the risk sits. The danger from a cyclone of this strength is not wind alone. Storm surge, flooding from heavy rain, and power cuts in coastal towns can each cause harm on their own. Shelters, standby rescue teams and boats brought back to harbour are aimed at all three risks at once.
Why the Bay of Bengal breeds powerful cyclones
The Bay of Bengal is one of the world’s major regions for tropical cyclones. Warm sea surface temperatures in the bay feed storms as they move toward the coast, and the shape of the coastline can push storm surge water into low-lying districts. That combination explains why Indian states treat even a storm that is still at sea as a serious threat.
For readers in Pakistan, the direct risk from Arnab is low. The storm is tracking toward India’s eastern coast, far from Pakistan’s Arabian Sea shoreline. The wider lesson still applies. Early warnings, identified vulnerable populations and pre-positioned rescue teams are the same steps that reduce deaths when storms strike any coastline. Pakistan’s own coastal authorities follow a similar playbook during Arabian Sea cyclone alerts, even though the sea basin differs.
The next test for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha comes on Tuesday, when evacuations must be largely complete before conditions worsen. Landfall is forecast for Wednesday morning, and the weather office has warned that the storm may strengthen further. Until then, the official advice for coastal residents is simple: follow evacuation orders, stay away from the sea, and do not return to low-lying homes until authorities say it is safe.
When will Cyclone Arnab make landfall?
Cyclone Arnab is expected to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh by Wednesday morning, with gusts of up to 140 kilometres per hour.
How many people are covered by the evacuation plan?
Andhra Pradesh has identified 570,000 people as vulnerable, with evacuations starting on Monday evening.
Which areas face the heaviest rain?
Heavy to extremely heavy rain is forecast for northern and central coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and southern districts of Odisha.
What has Odisha closed ahead of the storm?
Odisha has closed schools and colleges in five districts for Tuesday and Wednesday and is moving residents of low-lying areas to cyclone shelters.
