Cyclone Arnab: 31 NDRF teams deployed in at-risk states, with strategy set

New Delhi: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said on Tuesday that 31 teams have been deployed across the states likely to be impacted by the approaching Cyclone Arnab, with a full response strategy already in place. Cyclone Arnab has strengthened into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi told IANS that a coordination meeting was held on Sunday under the NDMA with all stakeholders present, after which the Cabinet Secretary chaired a meeting on Monday to finalise the strategy.

“NDRF teams have been deployed across the states and Union Territories likely to be affected, including Andhra Pradesh, the Union Territory of Yanam, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh. A total of 31 NDRF teams were requested, and they have now been deployed,” he said. According to the India Meteorological Department, Cyclone Arnab is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam by October 28.

Authorities have urged people to remain indoors once wind speeds increase and to move to the nearest cyclone shelter if instructed by officials. Sea conditions are expected to be very rough to phenomenal, with a storm surge of 1.0 to 2.0 metres likely at landfall, particularly around Kakinada and Yanam. In Andhra Pradesh, authorities have prepared 2,131 cyclone shelters across 20 districts.

Mobile alerts have been sent to about 2.07 crore subscribers in 18 districts, while swell-surge warnings have reached 6.9 lakh coastal subscribers. Twelve NDRF teams and 10 State Disaster Response Force teams have been positioned in 14 districts, with one team from each force kept in reserve. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea until October 29, and officials said all 30,043 fishing boats have already returned to shore.

Warning signals have also been hoisted at ports. Besides Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, the storm is also expected to affect Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and other areas. In Odisha, the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner on Monday issued an advisory warning against the spread of false, misleading and speculative cyclone forecasts through media and digital platforms.

“It has been observed that some individuals and self-proclaimed weather experts are disseminating speculative cyclone tracks, landfall locations, timelines and impact assessments without adequate scientific validation or reference to official forecasts issued by the India Meteorological Department,” the SRC said. The advisory cautioned that such unverified and sensationalised forecasts could trigger public panic, leading to premature crop harvesting, panic buying, hoarding, artificial shortages and price increases. It also warned that conflicting and misleading alerts could confuse the public and undermine the government’s coordinated preparedness, evacuation and emergency response efforts.

The SRC, in coordination with the IMD and other agencies, issues official disaster advisories and oversees preparedness, evacuation and response measures across the state.