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Visakhapatnam/Special Correspondent. The severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, which arose from the Bay of Bengal, has hit the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh with full force. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the process of landfall of the storm started between Kakinada and Yanam in the early hours of Wednesday, due to which storm winds are blowing at a speed of 125 to 135 kilometers per hour in the coastal districts, while the speed of gusts has reached 150 kilometers per hour.
Destructive storm waves several meters high are rising in the sea from RK Beach in Visakhapatnam to Kakinada, Amalapuram and Konaseema. In view of the rough nature of the sea, the administration has imposed a complete ban on people going to the beaches. As soon as landfall began, Visakhapatnam recorded torrential rainfall of over 216 mm and Kalingapatnam recorded around 148 mm of rainfall. Hundreds of trees and electric poles have been uprooted by the cyclone, causing traffic disruption on several major highways and coastal routes.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has held an emergency meeting with about 32,000 personnel from the disaster control room and all the district magistrates. The Meteorological Department has issued a severe alert of flash flood in 15 major districts of the state – Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Konaseema, East and West Godavari, Eluru, Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna and NTR and other coastal districts.
Even before landfall, the administration had evacuated about 1.5 lakh citizens from coastal and low-lying areas to more than 1,700 relief camps. The Chief Minister has given strict instructions to the officials that as soon as the speed of the storm slows down, the trees fallen on the national highways and main roads should be removed within two hours and the damaged power lines should be restored immediately. As a precautionary measure, dozens of flights have been canceled from Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada airports, while dozens of trains have been diverted.
The landfall of Cyclone Arnab has also had a direct and serious impact on the neighboring state of Odisha. The Odisha government has declared holiday in schools and Anganwadi centers in 16 districts in the southern and coastal areas. Orange and red alerts of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall have been issued in sensitive districts like Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri.
Red flags have been put up on Odisha’s famous Puri and Gopalpur beaches and tourists have been completely turned away from the beaches. More than 290 special teams of NDRF, ODRAF and fire department have been deployed on high alert in the state. Adequate arrangements have been made in relief camps to accommodate thousands of people, with pure drinking water, dry ration and backup generators to deal with any emergency.
The intensity of cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ is so high that its impact will not be limited to Peninsular India only, but its cyclonic circle is also going to badly affect the weather of Central and North India. According to meteorologists, Arnab will move north-northwestwards and bring moisture to the Uttar Pradesh border via Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Due to its effect, a warning of unseasonal rain and strong winds has been issued in Purvanchal, Bundelkhand and central parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Issuing a yellow alert of heavy rain for the next two days in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh, the administration has appealed to the general public not to come out of their homes for non-essential work. There are chances of thunderstorms and drizzle along with movement of clouds in the capital Lucknow, Varanasi, Gorakhpur and Mirzapur. Along with this, due to the combined effect of Western Disturbance and Cyclone Arnab, there is a possibility of cloudy sky and light to moderate rain in Delhi-NCR and hilly states like Himachal Pradesh during the next 48 to 72 hours.
Due to the storm, East Coast Railway has either canceled or short-terminated more than 80 trains passing through Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Reviewing the situation, the Civil Aviation Ministry has directed to keep a close watch on the operation of flights going to Visakhapatnam, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad, Varanasi and Prayagraj and provide timely information to the passengers.
The Disaster Management Authority has issued 24-hour emergency helpline numbers in all coastal and alert districts. The administration has strictly advised citizens not to stand near kutcha houses, old and dilapidated structures, big hoardings and under huge trees. Due to the possibility of high waves and strong stormy winds in the sea till October 30, fishermen have been warned not to venture into the Bay of Bengal. The Meteorological Department estimates that by afternoon the intensity of the cyclone will reduce slightly and it may turn into a cyclonic depression.