India evacuates thousands as Cyclone Arnab approaches eastern coast

India is evacuating tens of thousands of people along its eastern coast as Cyclone Arnab moves closer to land, Al Jazeera and Latest news from Azerbaijan reported. The storm has intensified since Monday and is expected to make landfall by Wednesday morning, according to Al Jazeera. [1][5]

The India Meteorological Department issued a warning for the coastal states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, Al Jazeera reported. Al Jazeera stated that the storm was centred 260 kilometres southeast of Visakhapatnam. The Hindu reported that the very severe cyclonic storm was about 220 kilometres from Visakhapatnam and 240 kilometres from Kakinada. Landfall is expected near Yanam on the Andhra coast, according to The Hindu. [1][3]

Al Jazeera reported that 400,000 people need to be evacuated and more than 12 million people live along the projected path of the cyclone. The Hindu reported that 10,176 households in 37 villages within the Visakhapatnam district are likely to be affected, with thousands already evacuated and train services disrupted. [1][2][3]

The 2026 North Indian Ocean cyclone season is the first season since 2023 to feature at least one very severe cyclonic storm. Arnab is the first named cyclonic storm of the season since 2012. Most cyclones in the region form between April and December. [8]

Precautionary measures are being stepped up across the region. States including Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand are bracing for heavy rain as the storm approaches, The Hindu reported. [2][3]