Cyclone Arnab impact likely up to Krishna; A.P. on high alert, says Naidu

Cyclone Arnab was expected to affect Andhra Pradesh’s coastal districts from Srikakulam in the north to Krishna in the south. The projected impact zone changed as forecasts were updated. Earlier assessments included Bapatla district, but later forecasts limited the expected reach to Krishna district. This mattered because officials had to focus evacuations, shelters and emergency teams on the most exposed areas.

The cyclone was likely to cross the coast near Yanam, close to Kakinada. Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, Manyam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Kakinada faced possible severe impacts. Forecast rainfall included 30 cm in Srikakulam, 28 cm in West Godavari and 23 cm in Visakhapatnam.

Rain had already begun in North Andhra. More heavy rain and strong winds were expected on Tuesday night and Wednesday. The government kept schools closed, urged residents of coastal and low-lying areas to move to shelters, and continued round-the-clock monitoring.

A cyclone is a large, rotating storm system built around a low-pressure centre. It can bring destructive winds, very heavy rain and flooding. Cyclones matter because their effects can spread far beyond the point where the storm crosses land, especially along exposed coasts and river basins.

A red alert is the most serious weather warning used for a dangerous event requiring urgent preparation and action. In this case, the government said Arnab was in the red alert category but told people not to panic. Landfall means the cyclone’s centre moves from the sea across the coast. Arnab was likely to make landfall near Yanam, close to Kakinada.

The warning led authorities to close schools, evacuate 84,396 people and prepare shelters, ambulances, rescue forces and power-repair teams. These measures reduce risks before the storm arrives. The government also warned residents to avoid travel and stay away from overflowing streams and other watercourses.

The scale of the preparation was extensive because the storm threatened lives, homes, farms and essential services across coastal Andhra Pradesh. Authorities established 290 cyclone shelters and moved 84,396 people to safer locations. These figures show that preparedness focused first on getting vulnerable residents away from exposed coastal and low-lying areas.

More than 30,000 fishing boats were brought back from the sea. In addition, 93 Andhra Pradesh boats and their crews were safe at Gopalpur in Odisha. Health services kept 1,316 ambulances ready, while around 5,000 pregnant women were shifted to health centres and hospitals.

These measures were in place before the heaviest weather arrived. Shelters provided safer accommodation, boats and crews were protected from dangerous seas, and ambulances supported medical emergencies. Officials continued monitoring conditions overnight, with cyclone bulletins issued every hour and control rooms operating around the clock.

The cyclone’s heavy rain and strong winds could create several connected dangers. Rivers might rise, tanks could breach, low-lying coastal areas could flood, and villages could become isolated. Strong winds could damage homes, infrastructure, crops and electricity lines. The government warned that the storm could affect both people and property across coastal districts.

The Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers were specific concerns because intense rainfall can increase water flows quickly. Authorities were monitoring those flows and preparing for breaches in tanks. Up to 15,000 power poles could collapse, while 7.16 lakh hectares of crops and 16 lakh hectares of horticultural crops were potentially at risk.

Flooded villages might need food and medicines delivered by drones. The government arranged drinking water, generators and essential supplies for vulnerable communities. It also mobilised 8,400 personnel to restore electricity. Residents were urged to move to shelters and avoid overflowing streams and other watercourses.

A cyclone’s projected path is an estimate, not a fixed line. Forecasters update it as new weather observations arrive and computer models recalculate the storm’s likely movement. Small changes in the storm’s position, strength or surrounding winds can alter where it is expected to travel. That is why officials may revise the districts included in warnings.

For Arnab, initial predictions suggested effects could extend up to Bapatla district. Later assessments indicated that the expected impact would reach only as far as Krishna district. The likely crossing point was near Yanam, close to Kakinada. These changes helped authorities adjust their attention while keeping wider precautions in place.

The shifting forecast did not remove the danger. Heavy rain and strong winds were still expected across coastal districts, and several places faced possible severe impacts. Authorities remained on high alert, kept control rooms operating, issued hourly bulletins and continued monitoring throughout the night.

The State government directed the overall response. It reviewed preparedness, ordered precautions, arranged shelters and evacuations, issued warnings, and monitored rivers, supplies and vulnerable communities. Schools were closed, control rooms operated continuously, and bulletins were issued hourly. The government’s stated priority was protecting lives and limiting property damage.

The National and State Disaster Response Forces, Navy and Coast Guard were alerted for rescue and emergency operations. Health services prepared 1,316 ambulances and moved around 5,000 pregnant women to health centres and hospitals. Power teams mobilised 8,400 personnel to restore electricity and prepared for the possible collapse of 15,000 poles.

This division of work allowed different risks to be handled at once. Rescue teams could respond to danger, medical workers could support patients, and electricity crews could repair damaged networks. Drones were also planned to deliver food and medicines to inundated villages if roads became unusable.

Tropical cyclones form over warm ocean water. Heat causes moist air to rise, lowering pressure near the surface. More air moves toward that low-pressure area, and Earth’s rotation helps the system spin. As the storm gathers energy and moisture, it can produce powerful winds, intense rain and dangerous waves. It weakens after moving over land or cooler water.

Andhra Pradesh’s coastal districts are directly exposed to storms arriving from the sea. Arnab was expected to bring heavy rain and strong winds from Srikakulam to Krishna, with landfall near Yanam. Rainfall could reach 30 cm in Srikakulam, 28 cm in West Godavari and 23 cm in Visakhapatnam.

Coastal exposure combines with river and lowland risks. Heavy rain could raise the Nagavali and Vamsadhara, breach tanks and inundate low-lying areas. The government therefore evacuated residents, prepared shelters, protected boats and readied teams for rescue, medical care and power restoration.