Amaravati, Cyclone Arnab remained “practically stationary” along the Andhra Pradesh coast early on Wednesday and the landfall process is expected to continue for the next 2-3 hours, the IMD said, as heavy rains lashed a number of districts in the southern state.
At some places in the state, police rescued stranded people. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation on Wednesday morning.
Power supply had been suspended in cyclone-affected areas as a precautionary measure, officials informed him. He also directed officials to take precautionary measures to prevent tanks and canals from overflowing, it added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Meanwhile, CM Naidu held a teleconference at 6:15 am on Wednesday to review the situation in cyclone-affected areas and the ongoing relief operations. Further, the state School Education Department has converted 609 schools into rehabilitation centres, accommodating 854 people across the state as of 5.50 am on October 28, officials said. Heavy rainfall was likely to continue on Wednesday and Thursday due to the cyclone’s impact, according to state government officials.
The northern spiral band of the cyclone has further entered the land, while the storm’s centre remains very close to the coastline, according to the IMD. He directed officials to immediately clear uprooted trees and take steps to restore power supply once the intensity of the cyclone subsided, a government release said.
“We started at 6 am, but vehicles have not been moving since then as trees have fallen on roads and several routes have been blocked. Those trapped in dangerous situations or requiring assistance were advised to contact Dial 112 or the Kakinada Police Control Room. Rainfall exceeding 200 mm was recorded at several locations in Anakapalli, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts between 8.30 am on October 27 and 4 am on October 28, the IMD said. Kannuripalem in Anakapalli recorded the highest rainfall at 261.5 mm, followed by KVBR School in Vizianagaram district at 259.74 mm and the 16th Police Battalion area in Visakhapatnam at 259.06 mm. Earlier reporting noted: Cyclone Arnab LIVE Updates: Landfall Expected After 2 am, East Coast Sees Heavy Rainfall Cyclone Arnab LIVE Updates: Cyclone Arnab is moving faster than expected, and it is now set to reach the coast in the early hours of Wednesday. Earlier reporting noted: Visakhapatnam district recorded the highest rainfall, with 200.20mm reported by midnight on Tuesday. Kothavalasa in Vizianagaram district received 162.75mm.
Collectors of Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Konaseema and West Godavari reported heavy rainfall and strong winds in their respective districts. The four people, who had reported for duty in the morning, remained stranded until night after floodwaters completely surrounded the place where they were staying, leaving them with no way to get out. They informed the police about their situation, following which a rescue operation was launched.
Trees had fallen at some places due to the impact of the cyclone. Meanwhile, three people were reported to be stranded at the CWC godowns in Kakinada Anchorage Port due to Cyclone Arnab. Recounting his ordeal, Akash, a manager at an apparel store in Kakinada, said he and several others were stranded at the local bus complex after services were suspended due to the cyclone.
The area was flooded after heavy rainwater and seawater entered the premises, while the facility also experienced a complete disruption of power supply. The situation became critical as the night shift personnel were unable to leave the store premises as it became flooded. He thanked the police for responding to information provided by local residents and rescuing them. Police advised people not to venture outdoors unless absolutely necessary and to stay away from areas inundated by floodwaters.
In Kakinada, police rescued four people stranded in floodwaters near Bombay Katta area after heavy rain and seawater inundated the area, a district police press release said. The police safely rescued all four people, helped them board a vehicle and sent them to their homes, it said. G Raju, an employee of a private company, said he was stranded while working the afternoon shift when Cyclone Arnab hit the area. He said the rescue team reached them and brought them to safety. Similarly, C Durga Prasad, a resident of Nadakuduru, said he was stranded while travelling towards the Kakinada bus stop amid the cyclone. It has been raining continuously, while strong winds are causing more trees to fall and power lines to snap,” he told PTI videos. Akash said they had arrived at the bus complex to travel to Visakhapatnam but were held up. Earlier reporting noted: A special post-monsoon bulletin issued by the Nepal Meteorological Department said earlier that Cyclone Arnab in the Bay of Bengal was gaining strength and was expected to bring heavy rainfall, strong winds and a high risk of snowfall and avalanches across several parts of the Himalayan country.
The Meteorological Department said on Tuesday that the very severe cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall early on Wednesday.
The very severe cyclonic storm was located over the west central Bay of Bengal close to the Andhra Pradesh coast, near latitude 16.4 degrees north and longitude 82.0 degrees east, about 30 km east of Narsapur, 45 km south-southwest of Yanam, 70 km south-southwest of Kakinada and 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam. The system is likely to continue moving north westwards and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to the south of Yanam, as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph during the next three hours, the weather update said Under the influence of the cyclone, heavy rain struck several places in the Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Konaseema districts.
“The cyclone remains practically stationary along the Andhra Pradesh coast, and the landfall process is expected to continue for another 2-3 hours,” the India Meteorological Department said in an update at 5.30 am.
