Cyclone ‘Arnab’ Threat: UP on High Alert as Yogi Govt Ramps Up Relief Preparations
CM Yogi Adityanath's government prepares relief and rescue ops as Cyclone Arnab triggers alerts and unseasonal rain forecasts across Uttar Pradesh.
The Uttar Pradesh government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has been placed on high alert following warnings of potential disruptions caused by Cyclone Arnab. With forecasts predicting unseasonal rainfall, violent thunderstorms, and powerful winds sweeping across the state between October 28 and October 31, the administration is aggressively coordinating relief and rescue operations to mitigate any disaster.
Weather Forecast: Yellow and Orange Alerts Issued
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has mapped out a phased impact of the weather system across various regions of the state:
- October 28 (Yellow Alert): Strong winds, ranging from 30 to 40 kmph, are expected to lash districts including Sonbhadra, Mirzapur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Bhadohi, Ghazipur, and Ballia.
- October 29 (Orange Alert): The intensity is expected to rise, with wind speeds jumping to 40-50 kmph and heavy rainfall predicted for Chitrakoot, Kaushambi, Prayagraj, Fatehpur, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli, Amethi, and Sultanpur.
- October 30: Heavy rain and strong winds are likely to affect Bareilly, Pilibhit, and Shahjahanpur, as well as several districts within the Terai region, Awadh, and Purvanchal.
Experts warn that these weather shifts could lead to a significant drop in daytime temperatures, with a predicted decrease of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius.
Safety Guidelines for Citizens and Farmers
The Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner’s Office has issued a series of precautionary directives to ensure public safety during the storm. The government has urged residents to:
- Seek shelter in permanent buildings during storms and avoid standing under trees, electricity poles, or near fragile structures.
- Avoid unnecessary travel and stay clear of open fields, agricultural lands, and water bodies, especially during lightning strikes.
- Stay updated via official weather bulletins and the Sachet app.
Special attention has been given to the farming community. Farmers are advised to take immediate steps to protect their harvested produce and ensure that livestock are moved to safe, secure locations.
The Path of Cyclone Arnab
While Uttar Pradesh prepares for the secondary effects, the core of the storm is currently churning over the West Central Bay of Bengal. The IMD has classified the system as a severe cyclonic storm, which is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm within 12 hours.
The storm is moving west-northwestwards at a speed of 17 kmph. As of Monday evening, it was positioned approximately 490 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha and 490 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
Landfall Expectations
The IMD has issued a "red message" warning for the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha. Cyclone Arnab is forecast to make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28.
At the time of landfall, the system is expected to be devastating, with maximum sustained wind speeds between 115-125 kmph and gusts potentially reaching up to 140 kmph.