As the cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, which formed over the Bay of Bengal on Monday morning, gets closer to the land and is expected to intensify into ‘Severe Cyclonic Storm’ by Monday night, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Amaravati, has issued red alerts for seven of the 28 districts in Andhra Pradesh for October 27 (Tuesday).

Isolated extremely heavy rainfall, of 200 mm or more, is likely in the districts of Kakinada, East Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR), Anakapalli, while heavy to very heavy rainfall, of around 70 mm to 200 mm, is likely in the districts of Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, NTR, Krishna, Guntur, Bapatla, Srikakulam, Parvathipuram Manyam on Tuesday.

According to the updated information from the IMD, the storm is likely to cross the coast as a ‘Very Severe Cyclonic Storm’, with wind speed gusting to 140 kmph, close to Yanam or Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh around noon on October 28 (Wednesday).

As part of its preparedness, the State has already deputed seven National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and eight (SDRF) battalions to districts likely to be affected.

The cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, which formed over the west central and adjoining east central Bay of Bengal on Monday morning, intensified into a Severe Cyclonic Storm by evening.

A 9 p.m. bulletin from the IMD said the system lay centred around 490 km south-southeast of Gopalpur of Odisha, 490 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam, 560 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 660 km east of Machilipatnam and 730 km east of Bapatla as of 5.30 p.m. on Monday.

The system may then move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm over the same region by Tuesday morning. It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and cross the coast, close to Yanam, by October 28 noon as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm.

Till 8 p.m. on Monday, Andhra Pradesh has not reported any rainfall activity.

Severe heat

On Monday, the State experienced sweltering heat in many parts, with the day’s maximum temperature reaching 38.4 degree Celsius at Deverapalle in Anakapalli district. A few stations in the districts of Kurnool, NTR, Prakasam, and East Godavari recorded more than 37 degree Celsius. Not a single station recorded rainfall of above 2 mm till 5 p.m., according to real-time rainfall information available on the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES).

However, intense spells of rain are expected later in the evening or at night, as the system strengthens further.

The thunderstorm activity in the State is also likely to begin by Monday night. The A.P. State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) has cautioned the public as gale winds, with speed reaching 90-100 kmph, gusting to 110 kmph, are likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh, while strong winds of speed reaching up to 50 kmph are likely over Rayalaseema.

Fishermen have been strongly warned against venturing into the sea, as the condition is going to be very rough along the A.P. coast. By October 27 evening, it may worsen further.

For any assistance, the public can contact 112, 1070, 18004250101.

CM reviews preparedness

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered heightened preparedness across the State in view of the threat posed by very severe cyclonic storm Arnab.

Mr. Naidu has directed officials to evacuate people from flood-prone areas, prioritise vulnerable residents and deploy disaster response teams. Arrangements are being made to shift 4,711 pregnant women to health facilities. Officials reported that 30,043 fishing boats had returned safely to harbours. As 22 reservoirs are expected to receive inflows, arrangements are being made to store 10-12 tmcft of water.

The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has opened 30 divisional control rooms, in addition to 11 circle-level control rooms, to monitor the situation and coordinate emergency response, as part of its cyclone preparedness. Kakinada and East Godavari have three divisional control rooms each, while Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema has two.

The utility has also sought 150 teams of 10 personnel each from the Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (APSPDCL) and requested additional materials from it.