Cyclone Arnab: IMD issues red warning for five Odisha districts as Bay of Bengal system strengthens

A depression over the Bay of Bengal is on course to become Cyclone Arnab, the first cyclone of 2026 in the bay, with Odisha bracing for very heavy rain and strong winds.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the depression lay centred at 5.30am IST on Sunday 25 October over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal, near latitude 15.3°N and longitude 91.2°E, about 880 km east-south-east of Visakhapatnam. It is expected to intensify into a deep depression later on Sunday, a cyclonic storm by the morning of 26 October and a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of 27 October, before approaching the north Andhra Pradesh and adjoining south Odisha coast around the morning of 28 October.

The name Arnab, meaning ocean, was proposed by Bangladesh. If the system develops as forecast, it will be the year’s first cyclone over the Bay of Bengal.

The IMD has issued a red warning for 28 October for Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts in Odisha, with very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall expected, and an orange alert for seven districts on 27 October. Winds of 70–80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph, may prevail over the west-central Bay of Bengal from 26 October. Ferry and tourist boat services in Chilika Lake have been suspended from 26 to 29 October, and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed preparedness and said the state’s objective remained zero casualties, with departments assigned specific responsibilities. Around 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams, 17 National Disaster Response Force teams and 225 fire service units have been kept on standby, with cyclone shelters readied.

Sources: Kalinga TV (https://kalingatv.com/odisha/cyclone-arnab-imd-issues-red-warning-for-5-odisha-districts/), India.com (https://www.india.com/news/india/cyclone-arnab-mohan-charan-majhi-odisha-cm-red-alert-bay-of-bengal-imd-weather-update-puri-gajapati-ganjam-rayagada-koraput-malkangiri-8538983/), Times of India (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/arnab-may-hit-andhra-pradesh-coast-as-very-severe-cyclonic-storm-on-oct-28/articleshow/135182697.cms), Indian Express (https://indianexpress.com/article/india/imd-cyclone-andhra-pradesh-odisha-coast-10933258/).