Depression over Bay of Bengal set to become ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, cross A.P. coast by October 28

Fishing boats drawn up on the beach at Pedda Jalaripeta in Visakhapatnam on Sunday, October 25, 2026, ahead of the forecast of a cyclonic storm. | Photo Credit: V Raju The coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha are on high alert ahead of a severe cyclonic storm which is expected to make landfall on the morning of October 28, with winds of 115 kmph to 125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph.According to a bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department on Sunday (October 25, 2026) evening, “the depression over eastcentral and adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal moved southwestwards with speed of 5 kmph during past six hours, [and] intensified into a deep depression. It lay centered in the Bay, about 420 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, and 870 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.The system is likely to move nearly southwestwards, and intensify further into a cyclonic storm over eastcentral and the adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal by early morning on Monday (October 26). Then it is very likely to move west-northwestwards over the eastcentral and adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the westcentral Bay of Bengal on Tuesday morning (October 27), the bulletin said.The severe cyclonic storm is then likely to move northwestwards, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm and reach the westcentral Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday morning (October 28), and cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam.Evacuations by October 27Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority managing director Prakhar Jain told The Hindu that the State has deployed 12 battalions of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and seven battalions of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). The State has also requisitioned three more NDRF battalions in view of the approaching cyclone, which could have a greater impact than last year’s severe cyclonic storm Montha.People in the likely impact zones in Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Konaseema, Kakinada, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, and Vizianagaram districts will be evacuated to shelters on or before October 27, Mr. Jain said.Preparing for cyclone damageThe Odisha government on Sunday (October 25) instructed eight Ministers, including two Deputy Chief Ministers, to station themselves in eight districts to supervise disaster management measures and post-cyclone restoration activities.The State expects five districts — Rayagada, Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri, and Nabarangpur, which are near Andhra Pradesh — to bear the brunt of the cyclone and face heavy rainfall. Apart from the deployment of Ministers, five IAS officers have also been asked to monitor and take charge of the situation in these districts.“Residents in earthen houses, thatched huts, and low-lying areas are being identified and shifted to safe cyclone shelters. Expectant mothers near their delivery dates are being relocated in advance to nearby community health centres and public health centres, and hospitals. Special arrangements are also in place for senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities (PwDs),” said the office of the Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha.To handle emergencies, 24 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams and six NDRF teams were deployed in the five districts. Earlier, the State government announced that all schools and colleges in these five districts will be shut on October 27 and 28.The government has opened 24X7 control rooms in districts likely to be affected by cyclone after cancelling the leaves of government employees. Dedicated helpline numbers and toll-free services have also been made available for the public.(With inputs from the Vijayawada Bureau)The #Deep #Depression over Eastcentral and adjoining Southeast #Bay of #Bengal moved westwards with speed of 8 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centered at 1730 hours IST of today, the 25th October, 2026 over the same region, near Latitude 15.1°N and Longitude 90.5°E, about 450 km north-northwest of #Sri_Vijaya_Puram (#Andaman Islands), 820 km east-southeast of #Vishakhapatnam (#Andhra_Pradesh), 910 km east-southeast of #Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 1010 km east-Southeast of #Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 1080 km east of #Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh). It is very likely to move nearly westwards, and intensify further into a #cyclonic #storm over Eastcentral & adjoining Southeast Bay of Bengal by 26th October early morning. Then it is very likely to move west-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over westcentral Bay of Bengal by 27th October, morning. Thereafter, it is very likely to move northwestwards, intensify further into a #very_severe_cyclonic_storm and reach Westcentral Bay of Bengal near Andhra Pradesh coast around morning of 28th #October, 2026. It is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh & Yanam coasts between #Bapatla and #Visakhapatnam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph by forenoon of 28th October, 2026.— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 25, 2026 Published - October 25, 2026 10:10 pm IST