Bhubaneshwar: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red and orange alerts for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in Odisha as Cyclone Arnab is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on the forenoon of October 28. Odisha has deployed 225 fire service teams, while the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has mobilised personnel for preparedness and rescue operations.
IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty said the cyclone was moving over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal at 15 kilometres per hour. It is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by midnight on October 26 and a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27.
The system is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, with sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kilometres per hour, gusting to 140 kilometres per hour.
Rainfall in Odisha is expected to begin on the evening or night of October 27. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is forecast in several districts, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on October 28. Rainfall activity is expected to continue into October 29 before receding substantially from October 30.
Inspector General of Police for Fire and Emergency Services Dr Umashankar Dash said six districts—Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Gajapati and Ganjam—had been identified as priority areas. More than 100 boats and specialised equipment will be deployed, while a state-level command centre will operate round the clock.
NDRF Second-in-Command Santosh Kumar Paswan said five teams had been deployed in Odisha, with four teams mobilised for Visakhapatnam and four for Chhattisgarh.
IMD Director General Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said the cyclone was located over the central Bay of Bengal, around 650 kilometres from Kakinada, by Monday noon.
Sea conditions are expected to deteriorate, with waves exceeding 14 metres on October 27. A storm surge of 1-1.5 metres above the astronomical tide may inundate low-lying coastal areas. Transport, ports and shipping could face disruptions, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.
