Cyclone Arnab: India moves 50,000 to shelters as storm nears coast

Residents along the eastern coast of India are facing a 'very severe' cyclonic storm that is set to cross the shoreline by 11:30 a.m. local time on Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department reported that Cyclone Arnab was centered 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam, the most populous city in Andhra Pradesh. Officials expect sustained winds between 115 and 125 km/h, with gusts reaching 140 km/h.

The storm formed over the Bay of Bengal and has intensified since Monday. Its projected path extends inland and north across India, placing more than 12 million people in the storm's potential reach according to state disaster management records. The system threatens both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as it moves northwest toward the coast.

By Monday night, nearly 50,000 people had been relocated to shelters in vulnerable areas of Andhra Pradesh. Prakhar Jain, the managing director of the state disaster management authority, told Reuters that an estimated 400,000 residents required evacuation. 'Evacuation is continuing,' Jain said. In neighboring Odisha, local newspaper The Hindu reported that authorities plan to move 48,000 people to safety.

Transportation disruptions have already begun. Railway authorities announced on social media that at least 12 trains were cancelled in eastern India. Services on 53 routes along the southern coast were suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday.

The storm's impact may extend beyond the coast. Nepal authorities advised tourists to avoid high-altitude areas because Arnab could trigger heavy rain, snowstorms, and avalanches in the Himalayas from Thursday night to Saturday. This precaution follows a flash flood in August that killed about 1,500 people in the country.