Cyclonic Storm Arnab is intensifying over the Bay of Bengal and moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast, raising concerns over adverse weather in Odisha.

The India Meteorological Department forecasts that the system will become a very severe cyclonic storm tomorrow before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday. Five southern Odisha districts face the threat of extremely heavy rainfall, with warnings issued for Wednesday. The state government has intensified preparedness, deploying ministers and rescue teams, while railway services have been disrupted as a precaution.

Cyclonic Storm Arnab is moving westwards over the Bay of Bengal, about 600 kilometres southeast of Gopalpur in the latest available reports.

The IMD forecasts that the storm will intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm tomorrow and cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by Wednesday forenoon. In Odisha, very heavy rainfall is forecast tomorrow, extremely heavy rainfall on Wednesday and very heavy rainfall on Thursday. Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri are under a red warning for Wednesday. Heavy rain and gusty winds could uproot trees, damage power and communication lines, disrupt roads and railway services, and trigger flooding and landslides. Railways have cancelled eight trains and curtailed two services as a precaution.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has assigned eight ministers to oversee preparedness in vulnerable districts, while 302 rescue teams have been kept ready. Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in the five districts will remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday.