Heavy rain and strong winds lashed parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on Tuesday as very severe cyclonic storm Arnab moved closer to the east coast, with landfall expected by Wednesday morning. Both states have stepped up preparations, including evacuation of people from vulnerable areas, as the storm is forecast to bring winds of up to 150 kmph.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its latest bulletin, said the cyclone was over the Bay of Bengal, about 170 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It is likely to move west-northwestwards until Tuesday evening before turning northwestwards and crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday morning.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall as a very severe cyclonic storm, packing maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph, gusting to 150 kmph, the weather department said.

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