Cyclone Arnab: Andhra Pradesh on red alert as thousands of boats return to port
Administrative machinery swings into gear across coastal districts, halting marine fishing and river tourism ahead of projected landfall on 28 October.
Andhra Pradesh coastal districts have been placed on red alert as Cyclone Arnab strengthens over the Bay of Bengal, prompting widespread precautionary measures and the swift return of thousands of fishing vessels to shore.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the storm system is advancing west-northwestwards and is forecast to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday, 27 October. The meteorological agency projects that the cyclone will cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of Wednesday, 28 October, packing sustained wind speeds between 115 and 125 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 140 kmph.
Coordinated coastal safeguards
State and central agencies have acted swiftly to secure marine communities well before the storm reaches land. In Kakinada, administrative machinery coordinated smoothly with the Indian Coast Guard and the Fisheries Department to clear deep-sea waters.
More than 4,800 fishing vessels anchored safely at Kakinada fishing harbour and nearby landing points, including Uppada-Ameenabad and Kumbhabhishekam, by Monday. When six boats carrying 24 crew members put out to sea on Sunday evening despite initial warnings, Coast Guard units tracked them and escorted them safely back to port.
Kakinada District Fisheries Officer V. Krishna Rao said that marine fishing operations off the coast have been shut down for at least three days. Fishing has also been suspended along the Godavari river in East Godavari and Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts due to heavy squalls.
Precautionary curbs have extended inland. In the Godavari Valley, Chintoor Integrated Tribal Development Officer P. Narendra Pradal directed commercial boat operators to halt services heading towards Papikonda hills, urging tourists to defer visits to regional waterfalls and forest sites in Polavaram district until weather conditions stabilise.
District alert breakdown
The IMD stepped up weather warnings across coastal belts as the storm moved within striking distance of the mainland.
| Alert Level | Tuesday, 27 October | Wednesday, 28 October |
|---|---|---|
| Red (Extremely heavy rain) | Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, Yanam | Visakhapatnam, ASR, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Yanam |
| Orange (Very heavy rain) | Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, ASR, Anakapalli, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla | Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Bapatla |
| Yellow (Heavy rain) | Palnadu, Prakasam, Nellore | Palnadu, Prakasam, Nellore |
Light rain and overcast skies spread across urban hubs including Vijayawada on Monday. District administrations throughout the coastal zone have activated local emergency response protocols to maintain communications, clear drainage networks, and minimise disruption to public transport as the storm closes in.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing boats safely anchored off Kakinada | Over 4,800 | Kakinada District Fisheries Officer V. Krishna Rao |
| Projected landfall sustained wind speed | 115–125 kmph | India Meteorological Department |
| Peak gust speed during landfall | Up to 140 kmph | India Meteorological Department |
| Boats guided back by Coast Guard | 6 | Kakinada District Fisheries Officer V. Krishna Rao |
Questions readers are asking
Where is Cyclone Arnab expected to make landfall?
The India Meteorological Department expects the storm to cross between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast by the forenoon of 28 October.
What measures have been taken for fishermen along the Andhra coast?
More than 4,800 marine fishing vessels have been brought safely back to port in Kakinada, and all deep-sea and inland river fishing has been suspended for at least 72 hours.
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Cyclone Arnab | Tropical cyclone tracking across the Bay of Bengal towards coastal Andhra Pradesh. |
| India Meteorological Department | National weather bureau issuing warnings, alerts, and landfall predictions. |
| Andhra Pradesh | Coastal Indian state preparing for the cyclone's direct impact. |
