Bangladesh maintains maritime warnings as Cyclone Arnab hits Indian coast

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Today the severe cyclonic storm Arnab began making landfall along India’s Andhra Pradesh coast early, bringing heavy rain and strong winds. More than 180,000 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha.

Bangladesh’s four maritime ports remained under local cautionary signal No. 3 as the cyclone threatened gusty weather over the northern Bay of Bengal and nearby coastal areas.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Arnab had become nearly stationary near the Andhra Pradesh coast, with its northern outer bands moving inland while the centre remained close to the shoreline. The landfall process was expected to continue for another two to three hours, according to an update early Wednesday.

The storm was forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, bringing strong winds and heavy rainfall.

Authorities reported fallen trees, power disruptions and transport cancellations. Some schools were closed, train and flight services were cancelled, and operations at three airports in Andhra Pradesh were suspended as a precaution. No deaths had been reported in Andhra Pradesh or Odisha at the time of Reuters’ early Wednesday report.

Bangladesh’s four maritime ports remain under signal No. 3

The Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) warned that deep convective clouds associated with Arnab could cause gusty or squally weather over maritime ports, the northern Bay of Bengal and adjoining coastal areas.

Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra ports were advised to continue displaying local cautionary signal No. 3.

Fishing boats and trawlers operating in the northern Bay were instructed to remain close to the coast and navigate cautiously until further notice. The cyclone could also bring rain and thunderstorms accompanied by gusty winds to parts of Bangladesh.

Eight regions under river-port warning

In a separate warning valid from 5:30am to 1pm on Wednesday, the BMD forecast temporary gusty or squally winds of 45–60 kilometres per hour, accompanied by rain or thunderstorms, at inland river ports in eight regions.

The warning covered Jashore, Kushtia, Khulna, Barishal, Patuakhali, Noakhali, Chattogram and Cox’s Bazar. Inland river ports in these areas were advised to display cautionary signal No. 1.

The river-port alert is separate from the signal No. 3 issued for the four maritime ports.

Coastal residents, fishers and people involved in maritime activities were advised to follow the latest weather bulletins as the cyclone moved inland over India.