Bhubaneswar/ Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have set up nearly 4,000 cyclone shelters, moved thousands of people to safer locations, and put disaster management personnel on standby ahead of the “very severe” cyclonic storm Arnab, which is expected to make landfall near Visakhapatnam in the next 24 hours, officials said Tuesday.
The Indian Railways cancelled at least 50 trains in the region as a precaution, while traffic restrictions were imposed on many coastal roads in the region. Two IndiGo flights connecting Vijayawada with Chennai and Bengaluru were also cancelled during the day.
According to the latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the storm was about 140 km southeast of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and 170 km south of Visakhapatnam at 2.30 pm. It is moving at 18 kmph and likely to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon, they said.
The Andhra Pradesh government has set up 2,131 cyclone shelters across the state’s 20 districts, kept 1,087 medical teams on standby in areas likely to be affected by the storm, and readied 8,281 emergency beds and 1,274 ambulances, officials said.
Besides moving people out of vulnerable areas, the government has also shifted 1,351 pregnant women to hospitals, they said.
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Two months’ worth of essential commodities have been stocked in advance at 14,686 ration shops, and continuous cyclone alerts are being sent to the mobile phones of 2.70 crore people, they added.
According to the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), the cyclone’s impact is being felt, with heavy rainfall expected in the north coastal districts shortly. Srikakulam district is likely to experience heavy rain accompanied by strong winds, while strong winds have already begun in Visakhapatnam and Kakinada.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to ensure essential supplies at relief camps and minimise cyclone-related damage.
The Indian Railways have placed around 600 km of tracks under close surveillance ahead of the cyclone’s expected landfall, with safety protocols and rapid restoration measures in place, officials said.
War rooms have been activated at zonal, divisional and Railway Board levels to facilitate round-the-clock monitoring, they said.
While the South Coast Railway has cancelled 24 trains scheduled for Wednesday, the East Coast Railway has cancelled 22 trains. So far, the South Eastern Railway has cancelled four trains, officials said.
Odisha, where heavy rains have already started, is moving 48,000 people to safer locations.
The state’s Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Rajesh P Patil said around 11,000 people each would be shifted to safer locations in Gajapati and Nabarangpur districts.
Evacuation drives were also underway in Malkangiri, Ganjam, Koraput, Rayagada, Kalahandi and Nuapada, he said.
Schools in eight districts have been ordered to remain closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
Patil said 135 permanent cyclone shelters and around 1,600 temporary shelters had been prepared to accommodate people from vulnerable areas.
The state government has deployed 294 rescue teams — nine from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), 60 from the SDRF and 225 Fire Services teams, officials said.
Maintaining that the government had set a “zero casualty” target, Patil said district collectors had been directed to take all necessary measures to protect lives and property.
Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said heavy rain in the upper catchment areas of rivers in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand could trigger flash floods and waterlogging in western and northern Odisha.
Odisha’s major ports, including Paradip, Dhamra and Gopalpur, have also stepped up preparations in view of the approaching storm.
The very severe cyclonic storm also brought rain to parts of West Bengal in the afternoon.
The coastal districts of South 24 Parganas and Purba Medinipur experienced moderate rain, while parts of Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Howrah and Kolkata also received rainfall, the IMD said.
Over the next two days, heavy rain is likely in South 24 Parganas, Purba and Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Bardhaman, while Kolkata is expected to receive light to moderate rain, it said.
In the sub-Himalayan region, heavy rain is expected in Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri October 29 and 30, it added.
In neighbouring Jharkhand, the Ranchi district administration ordered closure of schools October 28 and 29 as a rain alert was issued.
A ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rain has been issued for Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsawan, East and West Singhbhum for 24 hours starting from 8.30 am on October 28. Warnings for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds were also issued.
Ranchi Meteorological Centre Deputy Director Abhishek Anand said eight to nine districts are likely to be affected by the cyclone.
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