Cyclone Arnab Nears Landfall in Andhra Pradesh: Coastal Districts on Alert, Evacuations Underway

According to India Today reporting published on Tuesday, October 28, 2026, Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab is approaching the coast of Andhra Pradesh, triggering widespread transport disruptions, school closures, and evacuations across coastal districts.

Transport Disruptions and Flight Cancellations

The approach of the severe cyclonic storm has severely impacted regional mobility:

• At least 21 flights were reported cancelled on Tuesday at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam airports.
• An additional 15 scheduled cancellations were reported for Wednesday, affecting routes connecting to Chennai, Bengaluru, Kadapa, and Delhi.
• Impacted commercial airlines include IndiGo, Fly91, and Air India.
• Southern Railway announced the cancellation of dozens of train services.
• State transport services have been halted, and highways barricaded as precautionary measures.

District Alerts and Preparedness

Coastal districts, including Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Konaseema, and Vijayawada, have been placed on high alert. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast a cyclonic storm surge associated with the system's expected landfall between Kakinada, Yanam, and Konaseema.

Safety Measures and Evacuations

Authorities have implemented several emergency measures to protect residents in vulnerable zones:

• Educational institutions, including schools and colleges, have been closed for a 48-hour period.
• Power supplies have been disconnected in select areas to prevent electrical accidents.
• Multi-agency rescue forces, comprising the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been deployed.
• Evacuation operations are underway to move citizens from vulnerable low-lying coastal areas to designated safe shelters.

Verification of the original announcement and ongoing updates can be conducted through official bulletins issued by the India Meteorological Department and statements from district administrative authorities in Andhra Pradesh.