The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned fishermen to avoid the sea until October 29 due to the ongoing cyclone situation.

Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab made landfall along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on Wednesday morning, October 28, bringing maximum sustained winds between 125 and 135 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 150 km/h, according to the IMD.

The weather agency has cautioned that heavy to very heavy rainfall, along with strong winds, is expected in various districts of Odisha as the cyclone progresses inland and begins to weaken.

The storm crossed the coastline between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, southwest of Yanam, during the early morning hours, completing its landfall by 8 am. By 8:30 am, the cyclone was reported to be situated over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, and the nearby west-central Bay of Bengal, at coordinates 16.5°N latitude and 81.9°E longitude. It was approximately 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km southwest of Yanam, and 60 km southwest of Kakinada.

The IMD anticipates that the cyclone will continue its north-northwest trajectory over the next 48 hours while gradually weakening, forecasting a downgrade to a cyclonic storm within six hours, followed by a transition to a deep depression shortly thereafter.

In response to the cyclone’s approach, the IMD’s Bhubaneswar center issued a red alert for six districts in Odisha: Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur. IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty indicated that these regions could face heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated instances of extremely heavy precipitation. Wind speeds of 60-70 km/h, with gusts potentially hitting 80-85 km/h, are also expected in certain areas, along with additional rainfall in some northern coastal districts.

Flight operations have been significantly disrupted in Andhra Pradesh as a result of the cyclone. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) reviewed the situation on October 27, anticipating that the storm would strengthen before making landfall.

Disruptions are expected for flights to and from coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, including Bhubaneswar, with potential ripple effects impacting travel to Hyderabad, Varanasi, Prayagraj, and Gorakhpur, depending on the cyclone’s path.

Visakhapatnam airport halted operations from the afternoon of October 27, while flights from Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were suspended after 7 pm that same evening. The Delhi-Bhogapuram-Delhi service was also cancelled for October 28.

Flight cancellations included:

• Air India: Six flights on the Delhi-Visakhapatnam-Delhi route on October 27 and the Delhi-Vijayawada-Delhi route on October 28.
• Air India Express: Thirteen cancellations primarily affecting Visakhapatnam routes linking Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada, along with flights between Varanasi and Bangkok.
• IndiGo: All flights were cancelled at Visakhapatnam, and operations at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry ceased after 7 pm on October 27, with cancellation numbers still being confirmed.
• Akasa Air: The Delhi-Bhogapuram service and its return flight were cancelled for October 28, while other services were expected to continue.
• Alliance Air: Operations remained normal with no cancellations reported at the time of the ministry’s update.

To assist air passengers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued guidelines for airlines and airport operators regarding adverse weather protocols, emphasizing the importance of keeping travelers informed about delays and cancellations. Travelers are encouraged to verify their flight status using the airline’s official website, app, helpline, or SMS service prior to heading to the airport, and to allow extra travel time. The ministry also highlighted that waterlogging and road closures are likely in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, which may hinder access to airports.

Airlines have been instructed to provide additional support to vulnerable passengers, including senior citizens, individuals with mobility issues, and those traveling with infants. Passengers with unresolved complaints should first contact their airline, and if issues persist, they can escalate matters through the AirSewa portal or app. The ministry reiterated that ensuring passenger safety is a top priority and will continue to provide updates as the situation develops.