Cyclone ‘Arnab’ begins landfall in India; Bangladesh ports on alert

Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab began making landfall along India's Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday (October 28), bringing heavy rain and powerful winds after more than 180,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha.

Bangladesh's four maritime ports remained under local cautionary signal No. 3 as the cyclone threatened gusty weather over the northern Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclone had become almost stationary near the Andhra Pradesh coast, with its northern outer bands moving inland while the storm's centre remained close to the shoreline.

The landfall process was expected to continue for another two to three hours, according to the department's early Wednesday update.

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The storm was forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, bringing powerful winds and heavy rainfall.

Authorities reported uprooted trees, disrupted electricity supplies and transport cancellations in affected areas.

No deaths had been reported in Andhra Pradesh or Odisha at the time of Reuters' early Wednesday report.

Some schools were closed, train and flight services were cancelled, and operations at three airports in Andhra Pradesh were suspended as a precaution.

Bangladesh's four maritime ports under signal No. 3 

In Bangladesh, the Meteorological Department (BMD) warned that deep convective clouds associated with Cyclone Arnab could produce gusty or squally weather over maritime ports, the northern Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas.

The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra were advised to continue displaying local cautionary signal No. 3.

All fishing boats and trawlers operating in the northern Bay were instructed to remain close to the coast and navigate cautiously until further notice.

The cyclone's influence could also bring rain and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds to parts of Bangladesh.

Eight regions under inland river-port warning

In a separate warning for inland river ports, valid from 5:30am to 1pm Wednesday, the BMD forecast temporary gusty or squally winds of 45 to 60 kilometres per hour, accompanied by rain or thunderstorms.

The warning covered Jashore, Kushtia, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cox's Bazar.

Inland river ports in these eight regions were advised to display cautionary signal No. 1.

The river-port warning is separate from the local cautionary signal No. 3 issued for Bangladesh's four maritime ports.

Residents of coastal areas and those involved in fishing and maritime activities have been advised to follow updated weather bulletins as the cyclone moves inland over India.