Authorities in Odisha have stepped up precautionary measures as Cyclone Arnab approaches, suspending boat and ferry services in Chilika Lake amid red and orange alerts issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, ANI reported.

Source: ANI via Latestly

The Paradip Port Authority has provided safe shelter to fishing boats and fishermen inside Paradip Harbour as a precautionary measure, ANI reported. At the Eastern Quay-1 (EQ-1) berth, 305 fishermen have been accommodated to ensure their safety during the adverse weather conditions, the report said.

Source: ANI via Latestly

In Khordha district, boats have been anchored along the coast amid strong winds, while tourist boat operations and ferry services in Chilika Lake have been suspended and most passenger boats have been shifted to safer locations, ANI reported. The district administration has imposed restrictions on boat movement from October 26 to 29 in view of the cyclone, the report said.

Source: ANI via Latestly

Chilika Wildlife Divisional Forest Officer Amlan Nayak said all boat movements in the lake had been restricted during this period, including fishing vessels and forest department boats, except for emergencies, ANI reported. Inshorts, summarising the same ANI report, said over 305 fishermen had been sheltered at Paradip Harbour and that the cyclone was expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla-Visakhapatnam by October 28.

Source: Inshorts

Separately, the Puri district administration had announced that all tourist boat and vessel services across Chilika Lake and surrounding water bodies would remain suspended from October 26 to 29 to ensure the safety of tourists and local residents, The Unstumbled reported.

Source: The Unstumbled