The Bay of Bengal has turned menacing on the eve of landfall. Cyclone Arnab, now expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, is set to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of Wednesday, 28 October 2026, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The forecast leaves little room for complacency. Sustained winds of 115 to 125 kilometres per hour are expected at landfall, gusting to 140 kilometres per hour. Winds of that strength can uproot trees, damage kutcha houses, snap power lines and throw loose objects across roads. Coastal districts have been placed on high alert, with administrations asked to keep essential services running and evacuation routes clear.
Red alerts have been issued for several Andhra Pradesh districts, including Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna and Guntur. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is expected across the region from 27 to 29 October, raising the risk of waterlogging in low-lying urban pockets and flooding in riverine areas. Authorities have warned that a storm surge could inundate coastal stretches near Kakinada and Yanam, where the sea is expected to push inland at the time of crossing.
Andhra Pradesh has identified around 5.7 lakh people in high-risk areas for evacuation, with the movement of residents from vulnerable coastal villages and low-lying settlements beginning on Monday evening. Relief camps have been stocked with food, drinking water, medicines and power backup, while control rooms are monitoring the storm around the clock. Fishermen have been told not to venture into the sea, and those already at sea have been advised to return to shore immediately.
Odisha, which lies within the storm’s broader zone of influence, has moved early to protect its southern districts. Schools and colleges will remain closed in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on 28 and 29 October, and tourist entry has been banned in six southern districts. The state has positioned 60 teams of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force, 17 teams of the National Disaster Response Force and 225 Fire Services teams, with 100 cyclone shelters kept ready in Ganjam district alone.
The preparations reflect lessons learned from past cyclones, where early evacuation and clear communication saved lives even when property damage was extensive. District collectors have been instructed to ensure that vulnerable groups, including the elderly, pregnant women, children and people with disabilities, are moved first. Health teams, power restoration crews and police personnel are on standby to move in once winds subside.
For residents in the path of the storm, the next 48 hours call for caution rather than curiosity. People have been advised to stay indoors during the landfall period, avoid venturing near the seafront to watch the waves, keep mobile phones charged, store drinking water and essential medicines, and follow only official advisories. Rumours on social media about the storm’s track should be checked against IMD bulletins.
Cyclone Arnab will test the preparedness of two coastal states at once. If the evacuation holds and warnings are heeded, the damage, however severe, can be contained to property. The real measure of success will not be the strength of the wind, but the number of lives protected before it arrives.
