India evacuates eastern coast and cancels trains ahead of Cyclone Arnab landfall

Authorities in India are evacuating people along the country's eastern coast ahead of Cyclone Arnab. Some train services in the region have been cancelled. The cyclone is expected to make landfall on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, and to bring gusting winds. Both Reuters and Al Jazeera reported these developments. Reuters also reported that heavy rain is expected on the eastern coast.

Storm forecast

According to Al Jazeera, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning for the coastal states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Al Jazeera reported that the IMD described Arnab as a "very severe" cyclonic storm. It was centred about 260km (160 miles) southeast of Visakhapatnam, the most populous city in Andhra Pradesh.

Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal and has intensified since Monday, 26 October, according to Al Jazeera. The outlet reported that the IMD expects the storm to turn northwest and cross the coast by 11:30 local time (06:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Forecast sustained winds are 115-125km/h (71-78mph), with gusts of up to 140km/h (87mph), according to the same report.

Evacuations

Al Jazeera cited Andhra Pradesh's disaster management authority as saying that more than 12 million people live along the cyclone's projected path, which runs inland and north across India.

Al Jazeera reported that Prakhar Jain, managing director of the authority, told Reuters that nearly 50,000 people had been moved to shelters from vulnerable areas of the state by Monday night. According to the same report, an estimated 400,000 people in the state need to be evacuated. Al Jazeera quoted Jain as telling Reuters: "Evacuation is continuing."

In Odisha, authorities have announced plans to evacuate 48,000 people, Al Jazeera reported, citing the local newspaper The Hindu.

Transport

According to Al Jazeera, railway authorities in the region said on social media that at least 12 trains had been cancelled in eastern India. They also said services on 53 routes along the southern coast were suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday, according to Al Jazeera.

Nepal

According to Al Jazeera, authorities in Nepal have advised tourists to stay away from high-altitude areas. The outlet reported concerns that Arnab could trigger heavy rain, snowstorms and avalanches in the Himalayas from Thursday night, 29 October, to Saturday, 31 October. Al Jazeera also reported that a Himalayan flash flood in Nepal in August killed about 1,500 people.

What the reports do not include

The reports describe the scale of evacuations differently. Reuters refers to "thousands", while Al Jazeera refers to "tens of thousands". Neither gives a total across states. Vocemundi reviewed only a brief summary of the Reuters report, not its full text. The reports do not include the IMD bulletin itself. They do not describe progress in Odisha beyond the announced plan, or any measures for ports, airports, fishing or schools. Both were published before the forecast landfall and include no information on casualties or damage.

Analysis

The figures available so far point to a large gap between the number of people moved and the number officials say need to move. In Andhra Pradesh, Al Jazeera reported nearly 50,000 in shelters against an estimated 400,000 requiring evacuation. How quickly that gap narrows before landfall may shape the storm's human impact. The forecast track inland and north means effects could extend beyond the coast, including to Nepal, where authorities have issued a tourist advisory. Outcomes will depend on the storm's final intensity and path, which official forecasts may still revise.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.