Bay of Bengal storm to become 'very severe' cyclone; Andhra, Odisha brace for October 28 landfall

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the cyclonic storm developing over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a “very severe cyclonic storm”, the second-highest category on the weather agency’s intensity scale, with a landfall expected between the northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha coasts on the morning of October 28.

According to the IMD’s classification, a very severe cyclonic storm carries maximum sustained wind speeds of between 118 km per hour and 221 km per hour. The scale runs from a depression at the lower end through deep depression, cyclonic storm, severe cyclonic storm, very severe cyclonic storm, extremely severe cyclonic storm and super cyclone at the top. A storm classified as a “severe cyclonic storm” — the category recorded for last year’s system — sits one step below the intensity now being forecast.

Storms of this strength typically bring heavy to very heavy rainfall, rough seas and a storm surge that can inundate low-lying coastal areas, along with disruption to power supply, road transport and fishing activity in the districts closest to the landfall zone. The exact impact will depend on the storm’s track and the timing of the tide at landfall, which the IMD tracks through successive bulletins.

In Odisha, the State Government activated its disaster response and mitigation machinery on Saturday (October 24). Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi reviewed the State’s preparedness and directed officials to prioritise public safety, evacuation and emergency response, stressing a zero-casualty objective. The instructions place the focus on moving people out of vulnerable coastal areas before the weather deteriorates and on keeping relief and rescue teams ready for deployment.

Coastal Andhra Pradesh is also preparing for the storm, with the landfall zone straddling the border between the two States. Districts along the northern Andhra coast are the first likely to feel the effects of strengthening winds and rain as the system moves closer to the shore.

The Bay of Bengal is one of the most cyclone-prone regions in the world, and October is part of the post-monsoon season when such systems commonly form. Over the years, States along India’s eastern coast have built up dedicated cyclone preparedness systems, including early-warning networks, designated cyclone shelters and village-level evacuation plans, which are usually activated in stages as a storm approaches.

Officials have urged residents in the coastal districts to follow instructions from local administration and to rely on official IMD bulletins rather than unverified social media updates. Fishermen and those living in low-lying areas are usually the first to be advised to move to safer locations as a system intensifies.

This is a developing story. The IMD is expected to issue further bulletins on the storm’s track, intensity and the timing of landfall as it approaches the coast. Readers in affected districts are advised to keep track of official advisories and evacuation notices issued by their district administrations.