Cyclone Arnab, which formed over the Bay of Bengal on Monday, is forecast to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm and cross the coast near Yanam or Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh around midday on Wednesday, The Hindu reports.
The India Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for seven of the state's 28 districts for Tuesday, including Kakinada, East Godavari and Konaseema, warning of isolated rainfall above 200mm. Sustained winds of 115 to 125km/h, gusting to 140km/h, are expected at landfall.
On Monday afternoon the storm was about 620km east-south-east of Kakinada. The state has sent seven National Disaster Response Force and eight state response battalions to the districts at risk. Before the storm's arrival, parts of Andhra Pradesh were still sweltering, with temperatures reaching 38.4C.
Source: The Hindu
