Cyclone Arnab is set to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast by October 28. Andhra Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu put officials on high alert to handle the storm. Meanwhile, heavy rains forced school closures in parts of Tamil Nadu on October 26. Odisha also stepped up preparations to ensure public safety.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday reviewed the State’s preparedness to deal with the impending cyclone, directing officials to remain on high alert and minimise disruption to people’s lives.

Officials briefed the Chief Minister on evacuation plans, rehabilitation centres, food and drinking water supplies, medical assistance, power restoration and other precautionary measures.

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Naidu puts officials on high alert as cyclone nears Andhra Pradesh coast

AP CM Naidu orders high alert as cyclone nears Andhra Pradesh coast; 10 NDRF, 11 SDRF ready for evacuation, relief, and power restoration.

Schools in Ramanathapuram district, four taluks in the Nilgiris district and Periyakulam block in Theni district will remain closed on Monday (October 26) following rainfall.

Ramanathapuram District Collector Sivaguru Prabhakar declared a holiday for schools across the district. In the Nilgiris, District Collector Lakshmi Bhavya Tanneeru announced a holiday for schools in Udhagamandalam, Coonoor, Kotagiri and Kundah taluks. Theni District Collector Sivakrishnamurthy also declared a holiday for schools in Periyakulam block.

-THB

The Odisha Government on Sunday (October 25) stepped up preparations, mobilising personnel and equipment, while Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi deputed eight ministers to vulnerable districts.

Mr. Majhi said although the system was forecast to make landfall in Andhra Pradesh, the Odisha government would take no chances and remain fully prepared to deal with any eventuality.

He directed officials to prioritise public safety, evacuation and emergency response, reiterating the State’s zero-casualty objective.

-PTI

The coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are on high alert ahead of a severe cyclonic storm which is expected to make landfall on the morning of October 28, with winds of 115 kmph to 125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.

According to a bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department on Sunday (October 25, 2026) evening, “the depression over eastcentral and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal moved southwestwards with speed of 5 kmph during past six hours, [and] intensified into a deep depression. It lay centered in the Bay, about 420 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, and 870 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

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Depression over Bay of Bengal set to become ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, cross A.P. coast by October 28

Cyclone expected to intensify into a very severe storm and cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on October 28, prompting evacuations and disaster preparations.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has forecast heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places in Pudukottai, Sivaganga, and Ramanathapuram districts on Monday.

Heavy rain is likely to occur over isolated places in Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Karur, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, and Nagapattinam districts.

The remaining parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal are likely to witness moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning at many places. Several areas are likely to witness gusty winds during the thunderstorms, at speeds reaching 40 kmph to 50 kmph.

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Many places in T.N., Puducherry likely to receive moderate rain on October 26

Forecasts predict moderate to heavy rainfall across Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikal, with looming cyclonic storm impacts through Oct 28.