Cyclone Arnab: 31 NDRF teams deployed as storm eyes Andhra Pradesh coast by Oct 28
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab is hours away from making landfall near Yanam on the Andhra Pradesh coast, and India's disaster machinery is in full deployment mode — 31 NDRF teams, 2,131 shelters, and alerts to over 2 crore mobile subscribers. With a storm surge of up to 2 metres forecast near Kakinada, and misinformation already prompting a government advisory in Odisha, the next 24 hours are critical.
Key Takeaways
Cyclone Arnab has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal and is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on 28 October .
31 NDRF teams have been deployed across Andhra Pradesh , Yanam (UT) , Odisha , Telangana , and Chhattisgarh .
A storm surge of 1.0 to 2.0 metres is forecast at landfall, highest near Kakinada and Yanam .
Andhra Pradesh has activated 2,131 cyclone shelters and sent mobile alerts to 2.07 crore subscribers ; all 30,043 fishing boats have returned to shore.
Odisha's SRC issued an advisory warning against speculative cyclone forecasts circulating on social media and digital platforms.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, confirmed that 31 teams have been deployed across states and Union Territories likely to be affected by Cyclone Arnab, which has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on 28 October, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
Deployment and Coordination
NDRF Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Mohsen Shahedi said a coordination meeting was held on Sunday under the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with all stakeholders participating. 'A coordination meeting was held on Sunday under the NDMA, with all stakeholders participating. Subsequently, the Cabinet Secretary chaired a meeting on Monday, during which the strategy was finalised,' he said.
Shahedi confirmed that NDRF teams are now operational across Andhra Pradesh, the Union Territory of Yanam, Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. 'A total of 31 NDRF teams were requested, and they have now been deployed,' he added. In Andhra Pradesh alone, 12 NDRF teams and 10 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have been positioned across 14 districts, with one team each held in reserve.
Storm Surge and Coastal Impact
The IMD has warned that the sea will be very rough to phenomenal at landfall, with a storm surge of 1.0 to 2.0 metres expected — highest near Kakinada and Yanam. Authorities have urged the public to stay indoors once winds rise and move immediately to the nearest cyclone shelter if directed by officials.
Andhra Pradesh has activated 2,131 cyclone shelters across 20 districts. Mobile alerts have been sent to approximately 2.07 crore subscribers in 18 districts, with swell-surge alerts reaching 6.9 lakh coastal subscribers. Fishermen have been instructed not to venture to sea until 29 October, and all 30,043 fishing boats have reportedly returned to shore. Ports have hoisted cautionary signals.
States Beyond Andhra Pradesh
The cyclone's impact is expected to extend beyond Andhra Pradesh and Yanam, with Odisha, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand also in the storm's projected path. Authorities across these states are on alert and coordinating with central agencies ahead of landfall.
Odisha Warns Against Misinformation
The Office of Special Relief Commissioner (SRC), Odisha, issued an advisory on Monday cautioning against the spread of false, misleading, and speculative cyclone forecasts through media and digital platforms. 'It has been observed that some individuals and self-proclaimed weather experts are disseminating speculative cyclone tracks, landfall locations, timelines and impact assessments without adequate scientific validation or reference to official forecasts issued by the India Meteorological Department,' the SRC stated.
The advisory warned that unverified and sensationalised forecasts risk triggering public panic, leading to premature harvesting of crops, panic buying, hoarding, artificial shortages, and price rises. The SRC stressed that conflicting warnings could hamper the government's coordinated evacuation and emergency response. All official advisories are being issued in coordination with the IMD.
With landfall expected within hours, the scale of preparedness — from mass alerts to shelter activation — will be tested against what forecasters describe as a very severe storm system.
Point of View
And Cyclone Arnab is the latest stress test. The 31-team NDRF deployment, mass mobile alerts, and shelter activation reflect institutional learning — but the real measure is post-landfall relief speed and the accuracy of IMD's landfall projection. Notably, Odisha's proactive advisory against misinformation signals a growing recognition that the information environment is now a disaster-management variable in its own right, not an afterthought. If unverified social media forecasts trigger mass panic or premature evacuations, they can overwhelm the same shelters the government is relying on.
NationPress
27 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where will Cyclone Arnab make landfall?
According to the IMD, Cyclone Arnab is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast close to Yanam on 28 October (Wednesday). The storm has intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal.
How many NDRF teams have been deployed for Cyclone Arnab?
A total of 31 NDRF teams have been deployed across the states and Union Territories likely to be affected, including Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, Odisha, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. In Andhra Pradesh alone, 12 NDRF and 10 SDRF teams are positioned across 14 districts.
What storm surge is expected during Cyclone Arnab's landfall?
The IMD has warned of a storm surge of 1.0 to 2.0 metres at landfall, with the highest surge expected near Kakinada and Yanam. Seas are forecast to be very rough to phenomenal in the impact zone.
Which states apart from Andhra Pradesh will be affected by Cyclone Arnab?
Besides Andhra Pradesh and the Union Territory of Yanam, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Telangana are also expected to be affected by the cyclone. All relevant state agencies are on alert and coordinating with the Centre.
Why did Odisha issue a misinformation advisory about Cyclone Arnab?
Odisha's Office of Special Relief Commissioner issued an advisory warning that self-proclaimed weather experts were spreading unverified cyclone forecasts on social media. The advisory cautioned that such misinformation could cause public panic, premature crop harvesting, hoarding, and price rises, while also hampering official evacuation and response efforts.
