NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday reviewed preparedness for the impending cyclone – named ‘Arnab’ – and directed agencies to “ensure zero loss of life and minimise damage to property and infrastructure”.In the review meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), chaired by cabinet secretary TV Somanathan, it was emphasised that essential services should be restored in the shortest possible time in the event of any damage.Somanathan also directed that eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar should be suitably alerted as these two states are also expected to receive high rainfall in addition to Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry.IMD, during the meeting, informed the NCMC that the cyclone ‘Arnab’ is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam as a “very severe cyclonic storm” with a maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by the forenoon of Wednesday.
Cyclone Arnab map. Credit: IMD
The name of the cyclonic storm, ‘Arnab’ (pronounced as ‘Ornab’), is given by Bangladesh in the list of tropical cyclones. The list carries 52 names, given by 13 countries including India, which were adopted by WMO panel member countries in April 2020 for naming of tropical cyclones over the North Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.The Committee was informed that the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed teams in the states, with additional teams on standby. “Rescue and relief teams of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Indian Coast Guard, along with their ships and aircraft, have been kept ready. Indian Coast Guard has so far shepherded multiple ships/boats to jetties/shore, and the remaining ships have been alerted to return to the coast,” said the govt in a statement.
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Sharing the progress of the cyclone before it makes landfall on Wednesday, IMD told the Committee that the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’ on Monday. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards, intensify further into a “severe cyclonic storm” over the west-central Bay of Bengal and then into a “very severe cyclonic storm” over the same region on Tuesday.
