Cyclone Arnab: Odisha, Andhra target zero casualties; schools shut, evacuations underway

The eastern coastal states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh shut schools, prohibited fishing in the sea and kept rescue teams on standby, stepping up precautionary measures ahead of severe Cyclone Arnab's expected landfall on Wednesday (October 28) to ensure "zero loss of life and minimal damage to infrastructure".

Arnab to become severe cyclonic storm

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the deep depression over east-central and southeast Bay of Bengal has moved westward and has intensified into cyclonic storm 'Arnab'.

It is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained winds of 115-125 kmph gusting up to 140 kmph by the forenoon of October 28, it said.

Also read: Cyclone Arnab to intensify into very severe storm, Andhra coast landfall on Oct 28

In the national capital, the National Crisis Management Committee reviewed cyclone preparedness, with Cabinet Secretary T V Somanathan saying that besides Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry, the MHA and the IMD should alert eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, since high rainfall was also expected there.

Somanathan asked agencies to ensure zero loss of life and minimal damage to property and infrastructure and directed them that, in the event of any damage, essential services be restored at the earliest.

24 ODRAF, 6 NDRF teams deployed in Odisha

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) informed the meeting that they have deployed teams, with additional teams on standby.

"Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard, along with their ships and aircraft, have been kept ready. Indian Coast Guard has so far shepherded multiple ships/boats to jetties/shore, and the remaining ships have been alerted to return to the coast," a government statement said.

While the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have ordered the closure of all schools till Tuesday, the Odisha government shuttered schools, colleges, and Anganwadi centres in six southern Odisha districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur on October 28 and 29.

In view of inclement weather conditions, the state prohibited fishing activities in the sea, stopped entry of tourists in the hills, waterfalls and dams in the six districts and started moving people from vulnerable areas to safety.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi deputed eight ministers at separate places to monitor pre-cyclone activities.

He said that though the severe cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall between Andhra Pradesh and Yanam in Puducherry, Odisha would be heavily impacted, witnessing very heavy rainfall and winds gusting up to 80 kmph.

Also read: Cyclone Arnab: Red alert in 5 Odisha districts; leaves cancelled, schools to be closed

Rescue teams, comprising personnel of the NDRF, Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), the Fire and Emergency Services and the police, have been pre-positioned at vulnerable areas.

"To handle emergencies, 24 ODRAF teams and six NDRF teams have been deployed," an official statement said, adding that district collectors have been put on high alert.

Evacuations underway, leaves cancelled

"People living in thatched houses and low-lying areas are being shifted to shelters. Pregnant women are being taken to health centres in advance. Special arrangements are also in place for senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities," Odisha's Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said.

He said all cyclone centres, along with some temporary ones, have been readied. The state government has cancelled leave of its employees in the identified districts, and control rooms have been opened to coordinate relief and rescue operations.

The agriculture department has advised farmers to harvest and safely store crops that are 80-85 per cent mature. Dedicated agricultural helpline numbers have been opened for assistance, the minister added.

Tourist hotspots closed in 6 Odisha districts

Pujari said that after landfall, the cyclone is projected to move to certain areas within Odisha's territory and cause heavy rainfall and gale-force winds. The state government is "fully prepared to tackle the situation", and there is no reason to panic, the minister said.

"Fishing in the sea has been banned, while tourist entry into hills, waterfalls, dams, and scenic destinations across the vulnerable six districts has also been banned," he said, adding that landslides are a major concern for the state when the cyclone hits in the eastern ghat areas.

The vulnerable landslide points have already been identified, and people living there are being evacuated to safety.

He said that as the sea conditions become rough to very rough, the government has prohibited public entry to sea beaches.

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Under the influence of the impending cyclone, rains may start from Monday night in parts of Odisha, Pujari said, citing the IMD forecast.

Officials also said that in view of inclement weather, the South Coast Railway has cancelled eight trains and short-terminated two.

Meanwhile, Odisha’s SRC has issued a strict warning against circulation of false, misleading and speculative weather forecasts and warnings.

"It is observed that some individuals and self-proclaimed weather experts are disseminating speculative cyclone tracks, landfall locations, timelines and impact assessments without adequate scientific validation or reference to official forecasts issued by the IMD," it said and warned against disseminating misleading information.

Andhra releases Rs 27 Cr for relief ops

The Andhra Pradesh government released Rs 27 crore to 20 districts for relief operations. Rs 2 crore each have been released to Bapatla, Krishna, Konaseema, East and West Godavari, Kakinada and Anakapalli districts for relief and response measures, a release from Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority said.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed cyclone preparedness with officials and instructed them to alert people according to the likely impact of the weather system and take all necessary steps to minimise damage.

He directed them to analyse information from previous cyclones and issue timely warnings to farmers and the public to help them take necessary precautions.

The chief minister stressed the need to assess the intensity of rainfall, wind speeds and flood flows caused by the cyclone and take appropriate measures based on the evolving situation.

Also read: Tamil Nadu rains: Flooding hits southern districts, reservoir levels rise

Educational institutions in cyclone-affected areas have been declared closed. Beaches have been closed to the public, while movement on coastal roads is scheduled to be suspended from Tuesday afternoon to ensure public safety.

Naidu instructed district collectors to shift people in vulnerable coastal areas to cyclone shelters as part of precautionary measures.

Officials informed the chief minister that arrangements were underway to shift 4,711 identified pregnant women from vulnerable areas to primary health centres, community health centres and hospitals, while all fishermen who had ventured into the sea had returned safely.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that Cyclone Arnab was likely to cross the coast near Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, on October 28. Moderate to heavy rainfall was expected in several districts from Srikakulam to Nellore from Tuesday afternoon, accompanied by strong winds along the coast.

Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was likely on October 28 and 29 in the North Coastal Andhra districts, Konaseema, East and West Godavari, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Palnadu, Bapatla, Prakasam and Nellore districts, they said.

15 NDRF teams ready in Andhra

As many as 15 NDRF teams have been stationed across Kakinada, Nadipudi in Amalapuram, Konaseema, Rajahmundry in East Godavari, Eluru, Narsapuram in West Godavari, Machilipatnam in Krishna district and Nakkapalli in Anakapalli district.

Of these teams, two have been deployed at Yanam while three each are stationed at the NDRF Battalion Headquarters in Krishna district and the Regional Response Centre in Visakhapatnam.

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Officials estimate that Tandava, Raiwada, Yeleru, Tammileru, Yerrakalava and Tadipudi reservoirs could reach their full storage capacities following the rainfall predicted to be caused by the cyclone.

Naidu instructed officials to ensure adequate stocks of essential commodities at ration shops and restore electricity supply immediately wherever disruptions occurred.

Cyclone to bring heavy rains to Bengal

The cyclone is likely to bring heavy rain in several districts of West Bengal from October 28-30, the IMD said on Monday.

It also advised fishermen not to venture into the sea along and off the West Bengal coast from Monday, as squally winds will prevail over the region, and warned of possible landslides in the sub-Himalayan district of Darjeeling in the wake of the cyclone.

Light to moderate rain will occur over some districts of south Bengal, including North and South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata from October 27-30, it said.

Heavy rainfall is also likely from October 28-30 in the districts of South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia in south Bengal, the bulletin said.

The sub-Himalayan districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri could receive heavy rain on October 29 and October 30, it said.

Squally winds will prevail along and off the West Bengal coast from October 27-29, with speeds reaching 35-45 kmph, occasionally gusting to 55 kmph.

(With inputs from agencies)