Authorities have evacuated nearly 89,000 people from coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh in eastern India as Cyclone Arnab approaches the country’s eastern coastline.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Arnab has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm and is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday.
The storm is expected to bring heavy rainfall and strong wind gusts of up to 140 kilometers per hour.
Coastal districts have been placed on high alert, while residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas are being moved to safer locations.
Several train services have also been canceled due to the heavy rains and strong winds.
Authorities said more than 12 million people live in areas along the cyclone’s projected path.
The government has prepared more than 2,000 cyclone shelters across 20 districts and deployed over 1,100 medical teams to provide emergency assistance.
Meanwhile, authorities in neighboring Odisha are preparing to evacuate around 48,000 residents from areas expected to be affected by the storm.
(Photo Courtesy: Reuters)
