Amaravati: Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab is moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast and is likely to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon, October 28, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its latest bulletin on Tuesday.
The storm is expected to cross the coast with maximum sustained wind speeds of 115–125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph. The IMD has issued a red-level cyclone warning for the Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coasts.
According to the IMD, the cyclone was centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Tuesday, near latitude 15.9°N and longitude 84.8°E. It was located around 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, 300 km east-southeast of Kakinada and 390 km east of Machilipatnam. The system had moved westwards at around 22 kmph over the preceding six hours and was forecast to move west-northwestwards before turning northwest towards the coast.
The weather department has warned of strong winds, heavy rainfall and possible flooding in vulnerable coastal areas. A storm surge of 1–1.5 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas near East Godavari district and Yanam during landfall. Sea conditions over the west-central Bay of Bengal are expected to remain phenomenal until the storm crosses the coast.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has issued state-level and district-level emergency control room numbers to assist people in cyclone-affected areas. APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain urged residents to use the designated helplines for emergency assistance. People can also seek support through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp service.
Authorities have advised residents, particularly those living in low-lying and coastal areas, to follow official alerts and instructions. Fishermen have been advised to stay away from the sea and people are urged to avoid unnecessary travel during severe weather.
State-level emergency helplines
- 112: Emergency assistance
- 1070: State Disaster Management Control Room
- 1800 425 0101: Disaster management helpline
- 9552300009: Mana Mitra WhatsApp service
District control room numbers
- Srikakulam: 08942-240557
- Vizianagaram: 8922236947
- Parvathipuram Manyam: 08963-450347
- 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
Residents are advised to keep emergency contacts handy and rely on official weather bulletins for updates.
