Cyclone Arnab: South Coastal Railway cancels 61 trains ahead of Oct 28 landfall
Synopsis
Cyclone Arnab is set to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October, prompting South Coastal Railway to cancel 61 trains and the state government to release ₹27 crore in relief funds across 20 districts. With Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu being briefed continuously and RTGS coordinating multi-department response, the scale of pre-emptive action signals authorities are treating this as a high-impact event.
Key Takeaways
South Coastal Railway has cancelled 61 trains ahead of Cyclone Arnab , expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2026 .
53 trains on routes within Andhra Pradesh scheduled for 27–28 October have been axed; long-distance services suspended until 4 November on select routes.
The Andhra Pradesh government has released ₹27 crore to 20 districts for relief and preparedness operations.
Districts including Bapatla , Krishna , East Godavari , and Kakinada each received ₹2 crore ; 13 other districts received ₹1 crore each .
Chandrababu Naidu is being regularly briefed; RTGS is coordinating multi-department cyclone response.
Passengers are urged to verify train status before heading to stations.
South Coastal Railway has cancelled 61 trains across multiple routes in anticipation of Cyclone Arnab, which is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2026. The cancellations, covering services between 27 October and 4 November, were announced in the interest of passenger safety as the state government simultaneously mobilised ₹27 crore in relief funds across 20 districts.
Train Cancellations: Key Routes Affected
Among the suspended services, the Visakhapatnam–Kirandul and Kirandul–Visakhapatnam Night Express have been cancelled from 29 October to 4 November. The Visakhapatnam–Koraput Passenger will remain suspended from 27 to 30 October, while the return service stands cancelled from 28 to 31 October.
The Visakhapatnam–Koraput and Koraput–Visakhapatnam Intercity Express have been cancelled on 30 and 31 October respectively. The Visakhapatnam–Kirandul and Kirandul–Visakhapatnam Passenger services are suspended from 27 to 30 October.
Additionally, 53 trains on various routes within Andhra Pradesh — scheduled to depart on 27 and/or 28 October — have been axed. Affected corridors include Rajahmundry–Vijayawada Junction, Machilipatnam–Vijayawada Junction, Machilipatnam–Gudivada Junction, Vijayawada Junction–Bhimavaram Junction, Bhimavaram Junction–Nidadavolu Junction, Vijayawada Junction–Narsapur, Narsapur–Rajahmundry, and Kakinada Port–Rajahmundry.
Passengers have been urged to verify train-wise cancellation details, check journey commencement dates, and confirm train status before proceeding to stations.
State Government Releases ₹27 Crore for Relief Operations
The Andhra Pradesh state government has released ₹27 crore to 20 districts to fund relief and preparedness operations ahead of the cyclone. According to an official release, ₹2 crore each has been allocated to the districts of Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada, and Anakapalli.
G. Sai Prasad, Special Chief Secretary of the Disaster Management Department, issued orders allocating ₹1 crore each to the districts of Srikakulam, Markapuram, Guntur, NTR, Eluru, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Polavaram, Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Sri Sathya Sai, Nellore, and Tirupati.
Administration on High Alert: Coordination and Evacuation Plans
The state government has stepped up its cyclone preparedness with a primary focus on preventing loss of life and minimising property damage. Multiple departments are coordinating evacuation plans and emergency response operations to address the anticipated impact.
Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) Secretary Bhaskar Katamneni and CEO Prakhar Jain are continuously reviewing preparedness measures and coordinating with officials across departments. Officials are regularly briefing Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on precautionary steps being implemented.
What Passengers and Residents Should Do Now
Rail passengers are advised to check the official South Coastal Railway website or helpline for updated train status before heading to stations. Residents in coastal and low-lying areas of the affected districts should follow evacuation advisories issued by district administrations.
Authorities are expected to provide further updates on the cyclone's trajectory and any additional service disruptions as 28 October approaches.
Point of View
₹27 crore in district-level relief, and direct briefings to the Chief Minister — reflects hard lessons from past Andhra Pradesh cyclone responses, where delayed action amplified casualties. The differentiated fund allocation, with higher amounts to coastal districts most exposed to storm surge, suggests more targeted planning than earlier blanket disbursements. Yet the true test will be last-mile execution: whether evacuation orders actually move people in low-lying coastal belts before landfall on 28 October, not after. With the Godavari delta and Kakinada coast in the direct path, the next 48 hours will determine whether this preparedness converts into lives saved.
NationPress
26 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which trains have been cancelled due to Cyclone Arnab?
South Coastal Railway has cancelled 61 trains in total. Key cancellations include the Visakhapatnam–Kirandul Night Express (29 October to 4 November), Visakhapatnam–Koraput Passenger (27–30 October), and 53 trains on routes within Andhra Pradesh scheduled to depart on 27 and/or 28 October, covering corridors such as Rajahmundry–Vijayawada, Machilipatnam–Vijayawada, and Kakinada Port–Rajahmundry.
When is Cyclone Arnab expected to make landfall?
Cyclone Arnab is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October 2026, according to authorities. The state government and railway authorities have been mobilising resources ahead of the expected landfall.
How much relief funding has Andhra Pradesh released for Cyclone Arnab?
The Andhra Pradesh government has released ₹27 crore to 20 districts for relief operations. Seven coastal districts — including Bapatla, Krishna, East Godavari, and Kakinada — received ₹2 crore each, while 13 other districts received ₹1 crore each.
What should passengers do if their train is cancelled due to Cyclone Arnab?
Passengers are advised to check train-wise cancellation details on the official South Coastal Railway platform, note their journey commencement dates, and verify train status before proceeding to stations. Further updates are expected as the cyclone approaches landfall on 28 October.
How is the Andhra Pradesh government preparing for Cyclone Arnab?
The state has activated multi-department coordination led by the Disaster Management Department under Special Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad. RTGS Secretary Bhaskar Katamneni and CEO Prakhar Jain are overseeing real-time preparedness reviews, and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is being regularly briefed on evacuation plans and emergency response operations.
