Cyclone Arnab to cross Andhra coast as very severe storm on Oct 28
Cabinet Secretary T. V. Somanathan, who chaired the NCMC meeting to review preparedness for the impending cyclone over the Bay of Bengal, stressed that all agencies should work to ensure zero loss of life and minimise damage to property and infrastructure.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) informed the committee that Cyclone Arnab was centred over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Monday, about 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 730 km east-southeast of Kakinada.
The storm is forecast to move west-northwestwards until October 27 and then northwestwards towards the Andhra Pradesh coast.
Its impact is also likely to be felt in Telangana, southern Odisha, south and central Chhattisgarh, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Chief Secretaries and senior officials of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry briefed the committee on preparedness measures, including evacuation arrangements, cyclone shelters and the deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams. District control rooms have been activated to monitor the situation.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the southwest and adjoining central Bay of Bengal, and along and off the coasts of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Yanam in Puducherry, from October 26 to 29.
Fishermen already at sea have returned, the meeting was informed.
The NDRF has deployed teams, with additional units kept on standby. Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard, along with their ships and aircraft, have also been kept ready.
The Coast Guard has escorted several ships and boats to jetties and shore, while others have been alerted to return.
Central ministries and departments informed the committee that standard operating procedures were in place and precautionary measures were being taken to minimise damage.
Somanathan directed that essential services be restored at the earliest in the event of any disruption.
He also asked the Union Home Ministry and IMD to alert eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar in view of the forecast of heavy rainfall in these regions.
The Union Home Secretary said the Ministry of Home Affairs, National Disaster Management Authority and IMD were continuously monitoring the situation and coordinating with state governments and relevant agencies.
