Cyclone Arnab Nears Andhra Coast: Seven Things To Keep Ready At Home

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Evacuations are under way in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as Cyclone Arnab closes in on India's east coast. The storm is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, on the forenoon of 28 October as a very severe cyclonic storm, with winds of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Photo Credit: X: @ANI

Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry are on alert, and eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and south Bengal can expect heavy rain. Cyclone Arnab safety tips start at home, long before the first gust.

Beyond The Coast: Who Else Is In The Path

#WATCH | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh: Light rain reported in parts of the city as an impact of the impending Cyclone Arnab, rough sea conditions prevail https://t.co/6IxEEclNZK

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026

Arnab is the first cyclonic storm of 2026 in the North Indian Ocean, and its effects will reach well beyond the landfall point.

Andhra Pradesh has identified about 5.7 lakh people as vulnerable in coastal and low-lying areas. It is also arranging to move 4,711 pregnant women to health facilities. Odisha has shut schools in six southern districts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Malkangiri, Koraput and Nabarangpur) on 28 and 29 October, and expects gusts of up to 80 kmph.

The IMD has also warned that low-lying areas near Kakinada and Yanam could see a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the astronomical tide.

Cyclone Arnab Safety Tips Start At The Door

#WATCH | Odisha: Tourist ferry and passenger boat services suspended in Chilika Lake amid Cyclone Arnab.All boats and floating bridges have been secured and anchored at the jetties as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of tourists and local residents. https://t.co/IG3CZNaXZH

— ANI (@ANI) October 27, 2026

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) advises keeping an emergency kit ready, with phones charged and SMS as a fallback when the internet fails. A practical kit holds:

• Drinking water and a way to make it safe: stored water, plus purification tablets or a plan to boil it
• Dry, ready-to-eat food that needs no cooking
• A first-aid kit, ORS sachets and regular medicines, with prescriptions in the same bag
• Torches and spare batteries
• A battery-operated radio, charged phones and a power bank
• Documents and valuables in waterproof containers
• Rubber footwear for wet ground

Getting The House Ready Before The Gusts

#WATCH | Bhubaneswar, Odisha: On preparations ahead of Cyclone Arnab, IGP of Fire and Emergency Services Dr. Umashankar Dash says, “In view of the cyclone forecast, six districts have been identified as a focus: Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Gajapati and Ganjam... We are expecting strong winds, heavy rainfall and possible landslides. To mitigate these risks, we are deploying 225 teams of fire personnel, along with equipment and highly sophisticated vehicles. More than 100 boats are also being deployed in various areas... A state-level command centre is operating round the clock to monitor every rescue operation and situation. If required, additional manpower, equipment and vehicles will be deployed...”

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2026

The kit is half the job. NDMA's guidance also asks households to check the house, secure loose tiles, repair doors and windows, and clear dead or dying trees nearby. Sharp objects should not be left loose, and cattle should be untied so they can move to safety.

Once the storm arrives, stay indoors until officials say it has passed, and keep away from fallen or dangling wires.

Follow the IMD and state disaster management bulletins rather than forwarded forecasts. Odisha's State Relief Commissioner has already warned against self-styled weather experts circulating speculative tracks and landfall times.

When The Wind Drops, The Water Becomes The Risk

The danger does not end at landfall. After past cyclones, the World Health Organization has pointed to contaminated drinking water and a rise in dengue and other mosquito-borne diseases, because mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Boiled or treated water, ORS for upset stomachs and mosquito repellent are worth keeping close for the days that follow.

Bottomline

Cyclone Arnab is due to cross the coast on 28 October, but the preparation that counts is quieter and already within reach: a torch that works, water that is safe, medicines that will not run out, papers that will not get wet. Put them by the door tonight, follow official updates, and move to a shelter the moment the authorities ask.