Cyclone Arnab puts Jharkhand on alert; IMD issues heavy rain warning for 3 days

Cyclone Arnab is expected to bring three days of heavy rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds to Jharkhand, prompting flood and wind advisories.

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The very severe cyclonic storm ‘Arnab’, which is projected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, is expected to trigger three days of heavy rainfall across Jharkhand, leading the state authorities to issue flood and high-wind advisories.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘yellow’ alert for heavy rain across Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsawan, and East and West Singhbhum for 24 hours starting 8:30 am on October 28. Rain intensity is expected to escalate thereafter, with an ‘orange’ alert sounded for seven districts: Garhwa, Palamu, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Simdega, and West Singhbhum till October 30 morning.

In a post on X, IMD said the very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal had moved nearly west-northwestwards with a speed of 20 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centered at 8:30am over the same region, 220 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in AndhraPradesh. IMD has warned of widespread thunderstorms, lightning, and gusty winds through Friday.

In a statement, Ranchi deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri instructed officials to maintain continuous vigil over low-lying areas vulnerable to urban flooding, waterlogging, and agricultural runoff.

“Waterlogging is likely on city roads and low-lying sectors. Standing crops could sustain damage, while temporary shanties and structurally weak buildings face risk from gusty winds,” the Ranchi district administration said in an advisory, urging residents in flood-prone zones to take precautions.

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  Stationed in Ranchi, Vishal is heading the Jharkhand Bureau of Hindustan Times since November 2017. Besides leading the reporting team, Vishal tracks and writes on developments related to the state politics, economy and policy matters in Jharkhand. Prior to his current assignment, Vishal used to work in New Delhi after graduating from the University of Delhi. Vishal joined HT in the rank of Assistant Editor in August 2015 and was part of the Delhi Metro Bureau, covering a host of issues in the City-state including politics, policy---especially those related to urban traffic & transport infrastructure and railways. A native of Palamu district in Jharkhand, Vishal started his two-decade long career in the mainstream media in 2006. During this period, he has has worked in different capacity with a number of national media houses including the Financial Chronicle, India Today, Deccan Herald and The Hindu, before moving to the Hindustan Times. He holds the experience of having worked in three major mediums of mass communication--Print, Electronic and Digital. He is a proud father of two daughters.Read More