India orders mass evacuations as Cyclone Arnab approaches coast

Indian authorities have ordered nearly 100,000 people to evacuate vulnerable areas as Cyclone Arnab approaches the country's eastern coastline with the national weather department expecting the storm to make landfall on Wednesday.

Indian authorities have ordered nearly 100,000 people to evacuate vulnerable areas as Cyclone Arnab approaches the country’s eastern coastline with the national weather department expecting the storm to make landfall on Wednesday. Sri Lanka and Nepal have also issued weather warnings as the cyclone threatens heavy rainfall flooding and other dangerous conditions.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that Cyclone Arnab will strike the coast of Andhra Pradesh as a very severe cyclonic storm. Wind gusts could reach 150 kilometres per hour with landfall expected at around 11:30am Indian Standard Time on Wednesday.

Heavy rain has already hit the coastal city of Kakinada where powerful waves have been crashing against the shore. Residents have been advised to stock up on essential supplies as authorities prepare for worsening weather.

Kotesh Kumar, a 35-year-old resident told AFP that he had never witnessed such conditions before. He recalled a cyclone that struck the area three years ago but said water levels had not risen as much during that event.

According to Indian media reports around 50,000 people have been ordered to move to safer locations in Andhra Pradesh while another 48,000 are being evacuated in Odisha. More than 4,700 pregnant women living in potentially dangerous areas have also been transferred to hospitals.

The IMD has warned that the storm could destroy thatched houses, damage standing crops, cause localised flooding and uproot electricity and communication poles. Authorities in Andhra Pradesh have arranged evacuation facilities and shelters while police have blocked roads leading to the sea in Kakinada.

Odisha has opened 1,735 cyclone shelters and introduced movement restrictions in landslide-prone areas. Educational institutions in several districts of Andhra Pradesh have also been ordered to close from Tuesday until Saturday.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka has shut schools amid warnings of torrential rain, flash floods and landslides. The country’s military has been placed on alert to support emergency preparations.

Nepal’s disaster management authorities have warned that the storm could move inland towards the Himalayas by Thursday night, bringing heavy rain intense snowfall snowstorms and avalanches. Tourists have been urged to avoid high-altitude areas while people already in mountainous regions have been advised to remain in safe locations.

Nepal is still recovering from an August 26 disaster linked to a glacial mountain collapse which reportedly swept away more than 1,400 people and left over 5,000 missing.