Bhubaneswar, October 26: Cyclone Arnab intensified into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal on Monday evening and is likely to strengthen further into a very severe cyclonic storm within the next 12 hours, according to the latest update.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), it is currently centered at 1730 hrs IST of today, 490 km south-southeast of Gopalpur and east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam.

The system is also 560 km away from east-southeast of Kakinada, 660 km from east of Machilipatnam, 730 km from east of Bapatla and 730 km from northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram of Andaman Islands.

The system moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 17 kmph during past six hours.

According to the IMD forecast, during landfall, the storm is likely to pack maximum sustained wind speeds of 115-125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.

“It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards and intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm over the same region during next 12 hours. It is very likely to continue to move west-northwestwards till evening of 27th October and thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh & Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by forenoon of 28th October, 2026,” said the IMD.

Also Read: Cyclone Arnab: National Crisis Committee reviews preparedness

Five southern districts - Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri - are expected to receive heavy to extremely heavy rainfall and high-speed winds under the impact of the storm. The IMD has issued a red warning of extremely heavy rainfall (more than 20 cm in a day) at isolated places for these districts on October 28 (Wednesday).

Meanwhile, around 20 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams are deployed and have started working on disaster preparedness on the ground now. A total of 60 teams will be deployed in these three phases.

The state government has already deputed senior IAS officers to vulnerable districts to oversee preparedness and post-cyclone response and assist the district administration in relief, rescue and restoration operations. K Sudarshan Chakravarthy has been assigned Rayagada, Poma Tudu Koraput, Vijay Kumar Dash Gajapati, Yeddula Vijay Malkangiri and Maheswar Swain Nabarangpur.

Similarly, eight Ministers, including two Deputy Chief Ministers have been asked to remain stationed in eight districts likely to be affected.