Indian authorities have issued evacuation orders for nearly 100,000 residents in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as Cyclone Arnab approaches the southeastern coast. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasts that the storm, classified as a "very severe cyclonic storm," will make landfall early Wednesday morning around 6:00 am GMT near Andhra Pradesh’s coast, with wind speeds reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour.

Heavy rains and strong waves were already reported in the port city of Kakinada, as the cyclone intensified over the Bay of Bengal. The IMD issued an early bulletin indicating that the cyclone is expected to bring significant rainfall and potentially hazardous conditions along the coastal regions.

In Andhra Pradesh, approximately 50,000 people have been directed to evacuate low-lying and vulnerable areas, while Odisha authorities have ordered around 48,000 residents to move to safer locations. Local officials are mobilizing resources to assist with the evacuations and implement emergency preparedness measures.

The cyclone season in the Bay of Bengal and the northern Indian Ocean regularly presents challenges for the region, which frequently faces cyclones during the warmer months. This year, the impact of El Niño-driven warming has contributed to stronger and more extreme storm developments, according to meteorologists.

Neighboring Sri Lanka has also taken precautionary steps in response to the approaching system. The country’s Department of Meteorology issued warnings for heavy rainfall, flash floods, and possible landslides, leading to the closure of schools in several districts as a safety measure.

Nepal has raised weather alerts as well, anticipating adverse effects from the increased rainfall associated with the storm system.

Authorities across the affected areas continue to monitor Cyclone Arnab’s trajectory closely as they work to mitigate the potential humanitarian and infrastructural impacts of the severe weather event.