New Delhi- The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 31 teams across states and Union Territories likely to be affected by very severe cyclonic storm Arnab, with a coordinated response strategy finalised ahead of its expected landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday.
NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi told IANS on Tuesday that the deployment followed high-level meetings involving disaster management authorities and other stakeholders.
“A coordination meeting was held on Sunday under the NDMA, with all stakeholders participating. Subsequently, the Cabinet Secretary chaired a meeting on Monday, during which the strategy was finalised,” Shahedi said.
He added that teams had been deployed across areas likely to face the cyclone’s impact, including Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Odisha, Telangana and Chhattisgarh. All 31 teams requested for the operation have been positioned, he said.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Arnab has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on October 28.
The storm is likely to bring destructive winds, heavy rainfall and dangerous sea conditions. A storm surge of 1-2 metres is forecast around landfall, with Kakinada and Yanam among the areas facing particular concern.
Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to remain indoors as winds strengthen and move to designated cyclone shelters if instructed. Fishermen have been advised to stay ashore until October 29, while ports have hoisted cautionary signals. Officials have reported that all 30,043 fishing boats in Andhra Pradesh have returned to shore.
Andhra Pradesh strengthens emergency preparations
Andhra Pradesh has established 2,131 cyclone shelters across 20 districts. Mobile alerts have reached around 2.07 crore subscribers in 18 districts, while separate warnings about coastal swells and storm surges have been sent to 6.9 lakh coastal subscribers.
Twelve NDRF teams and 10 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed across 14 districts, with one additional team from each force kept in reserve.
Besides Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, neighbouring states, including Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, are also being monitored for potential impacts from the weather system.
Odisha warns against misleading cyclone forecasts
Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) in Odisha has cautioned the public against circulating unverified cyclone forecasts and warnings through traditional media and digital platforms.
In an advisory issued on Monday, the SRC said some individuals and self-proclaimed weather experts had been sharing speculative information about the cyclone’s track, landfall locations, timing and likely impact without adequate scientific validation or reference to official IMD forecasts.
The authority warned that sensationalised or inaccurate predictions could trigger unnecessary panic, premature harvesting of crops, panic buying, hoarding and artificial price increases.
Conflicting information could also confuse residents and disrupt the government’s coordinated preparations, evacuation plans and emergency response operations, it added.
The SRC said it works with the IMD and other authorities to issue official disaster advisories and coordinate preparedness, evacuation and response measures across Odisha.
With the cyclone approaching the eastern coast, disaster management agencies are focusing on coordinated deployments, timely public warnings and preparedness in vulnerable districts. Authorities have urged residents to rely on official weather bulletins and government advisories rather than unverified information circulating online.
–IANS