India Evacuates Nearly 50,000 as Cyclone Arnab Intensifies, Threatening Coastal Communities

Indian authorities have evacuated nearly 50,000 people from vulnerable coastal communities as Cyclone Arnab strengthens into a very severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal, threatening hundreds of thousands of residents with destructive winds, flooding and dangerous sea conditions.

The storm is forecast to strike India's eastern coastline on Wednesday, October 28, with maximum sustained winds of 115–125 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 140 kilometres per hour, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The agency's latest coastal bulletin placed Arnab approximately 260 kilometres southeast of Visakhapatnam at 00:00 UTC on Tuesday, October 27.

The cyclone was moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, with landfall expected between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam.

Authorities have warned that a storm surge of between one and two metres above the normal astronomical tide could inundate low-lying coastal areas, particularly around Kakinada and Yanam.

Prakhar Jain, managing director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority, told Reuters that nearly 50,000 people had been moved into shelters by Monday night.

Officials estimate that approximately 400,000 residents may need evacuation, with operations continuing as the storm approaches.

The state government has ordered the movement of people from low-lying areas across 14 districts and deployed national and state disaster response teams.

Authorities have also relocated 4,711 pregnant women from vulnerable communities to healthcare facilities as a precaution against disrupted access to medical services.

Educational institutions in affected Andhra Pradesh districts have been ordered closed from October 27 to October 31.

In neighbouring Odisha, officials have closed schools and colleges in several districts, restricted fishing activities and mobilised emergency personnel.

Odisha's Special Relief Commissioner, Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, told Reuters on Tuesday that evacuations had not yet begun in the state, although preparations were underway.

Transport services have also been disrupted. At least 12 trains have been cancelled, while services on 53 railway routes along the southern coast have been suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The cyclone's potential effects extend beyond India's coastline.

Authorities in Nepal have warned tourists against travelling to high-altitude areas from Thursday night through Saturday, citing the possibility of intense rainfall, snowstorms and avalanches associated with the weather system.

The warning comes as Nepal continues recovering from devastating floods in August.

Cyclones originating over the Bay of Bengal frequently threaten densely populated coastal areas, where strong winds, heavy rainfall and storm surges can damage homes, agricultural land, electricity networks and transport infrastructure.

For now, the confirmed development is the storm's intensification and the large-scale evacuation operation underway in India.

Landfall has not yet occurred, and the eventual extent of damage and casualties remains unknown.

Authorities are urging residents in threatened areas to follow official evacuation instructions and avoid dangerous coastal locations as the storm advances.