Storm Arnab Approaches Indian Coast as Evacuations Continue

Cyclone Arnab is approaching the eastern coast of India, prompting authorities to evacuate tens of thousands of residents from vulnerable areas. The storm has strengthened since Monday and is expected to make landfall by Wednesday morning. The India Meteorological Department classifies the system as a very severe cyclonic storm.

The storm center was located 260 kilometers southeast of Visakhapatnam, a major port city in Andhra Pradesh. Forecasters predict the cyclone will turn northwest and cross the coastline at 11:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday. Sustained winds are expected to reach 115 to 125 kilometers per hour, with gusts up to 140 kilometers per hour.

Prakhar Jain, the managing director of Andhra Pradesh’s disaster management authority, told Reuters that nearly 50,000 people had been moved to shelters by Monday night. This group represents a portion of the estimated 400,000 residents in the state who require evacuation. Jain stated that the evacuation process is continuing.

More than 12 million people live along the storm’s projected path, which extends inland and north across the country. In the neighboring state of Odisha, local authorities plan to evacuate 48,000 people, according to The Hindu. Railway officials reported that 12 trains were cancelled in eastern India, while services were suspended on 53 routes along the southern coast for Tuesday and Wednesday.

Nepal’s authorities have advised tourists to avoid high-altitude areas due to the risk of heavy rain, snowstorms, and avalanches triggered by the cyclone. These adverse conditions could impact the Himalayas from Thursday night through Saturday. The warning follows a flash flood in August that killed approximately 1,500 people in the region.