South Coast Railway has cancelled 53 trains as a precaution ahead of Cyclone Arnab's expected landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, and the state government has sanctioned Rs 27 crore — yaani Rs 27 crore for emergency relief across 20 districts — Telugu360 reported, citing railway and state officials.

Source: Telugu360

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its 2:30 pm bulletin on Monday, placed the cyclone about 540 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 620 km east-southeast of Kakinada and 520 km southeast of Gopalpur, moving west-northwest at about 13 kmph, Telugu360 reported. The IMD forecast Arnab to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Monday evening and a very severe cyclonic storm on October 27, crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon with sustained winds of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph.

On the Visakhapatnam-Koraput-Kirandul sector alone, eight services are cancelled on staggered dates between October 27 and November 4, including the Visakhapatnam-Kirandul Night Express (18515/18516), the Visakhapatnam-Koraput Passenger (58538/58537) and the Visakhapatnam-Koraput Intercity Express (18512/18511), according to South Coast Railway as reported by World Eyes News. The Hirakhand Express will be short-terminated at Rayagada on specified dates.

53Trains cancelled by South Coast Railway as a precaution
Rs 27 croreEmergency relief sanctioned across 20 Andhra Pradesh districts
115-125 kmphForecast sustained winds at landfall, gusting to 140 kmph

Railway authorities have set up round-the-clock war rooms at zonal and divisional headquarters to coordinate emergency operations and monitor the weather, Telugu360 reported. Schools have been shut in several coastal districts. Passengers are advised to check their train's status through official Indian Railways channels before travelling, as more changes are possible as the storm nears land.