The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a series of alerts as a low‑pressure system over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by October 26. The storm is projected to move toward the Andhra Pradesh coast by October 28 and bring heavy to very heavy rain across a swath of southern and eastern India, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, West Bengal, Odisha and the Union Territory of Yanam.
Storm development and projected impact
According to the IMD, the system over the Bay of Bengal is likely to strengthen into a depression on October 24, become a deep depression on October 25 and evolve into a cyclonic storm by the morning of October 26. The agency expects the storm to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on the forenoon of October 28, with sustained winds of 115‑125 km ph and gusts up to 140 km ph.
Squally winds are forecast to begin along the eastern coastline from October 27. In West Bengal, heavy rain is expected from October 28 to 30 in districts such as South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bankura and Purulia. The northern districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar are likely to see heavy rain on October 29‑30.
In Karnataka, Bengaluru experienced early‑morning heavy rain on October 25, with the IMD projecting light to moderate showers and occasional thundershowers for the next 24 hours. Temperatures in the city are expected to stay between 21 °C and 26 °C, and no significant water‑logging or traffic disruption was reported by the traffic police.
State‑level alerts and precautionary measures
Kerala has been placed under the highest level of alert. The IMD issued a red alert for Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts, signalling the possibility of more than 20 cm of rain in 24 hours. An orange alert was declared for ten districts—Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad and Kannur—indicating very heavy rain of 11‑20 cm. A yellow alert covering Kasaragod warned of heavy rain between 6 cm and 11 cm.
In addition to the alerts, the IMD forecast moderate rain across Kerala districts after a brief dry spell, as reported on October 25.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed cyclone preparedness on October 25. He ordered officials to prevent fishermen from venturing into the sea, to alert residents of low‑lying areas, and to set up toll‑free numbers for emergency assistance. The state’s coastal districts are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rain on Tuesday and Wednesday following the storm’s arrival.
Odisha’s scheduled two‑day visit by President Droupadi Murmu, set for October 28‑29, was postponed due to the forecast of a cyclonic storm affecting the state’s coastal areas. An official from the Chief Secretary’s office cited “unfavourable weather forecasts and safety precautions” as the reason for the change.
In Tamil Nadu, the Tiruvannamalai district collector, Vandhana Garg, banned tourists from visiting Bheeman Falls in the Jawadhu Hills on October 25 because of heavy rainwater flow in the hills. Similarly, the Courtallam waterfall in Coimbatore district remained closed to visitors due to a heavy inflow of water.
West Bengal’s districts mentioned earlier—South 24 Parganas, Purba Medinipur and others—have been warned of heavy rainfall, and fishermen have been advised not to go to sea from October 27.
Local impacts and relief operations
Heavy rain has already triggered landslips and water‑logging in several regions. In the Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, 62 minor landslips were recorded by the morning of October 25. Damage included 15 partially damaged huts, one completely collapsed hut, 16 damaged revetments, two high‑tension poles, nine low‑tension poles, one distribution transformer and 28 uprooted trees.
In the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) area, Deputy Commissioner Ahtab Rasool inspected water‑logged wards in Ramalingam Nagar, Thoraipakkam and Kannagi Nagar on October 25. He directed officials to accelerate pumping‑station operations and use motor‑driven pumps to clear standing water. The GCC also posted a public notice on X, urging residents to call the emergency number 1913 for fallen trees or other civic emergencies during the northeast monsoon.
Road infrastructure is also being addressed. Repair work commenced at a landslip site on the Mettupalayam‑Coonoor ghat section of the Udhagamandalam Road at Burliyar, as reported on October 25.
In Delhi, overnight rain and thunderstorms lowered the temperature to 17 °C, with 4.4 mm of rain recorded between 8:30 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday. The IMD warned of further rain and thunderstorms, with a maximum temperature of 31 °C expected later in the day. Air quality was measured as “moderate” with an AQI of 167, though 11 of 54 monitoring stations recorded “poor” levels, the worst being at IIT Delhi (AQI 245).
Jharkhand is also likely to experience rain on October 28‑29 as the same low‑pressure system moves west‑northwestward, according to Ranchi Meteorological Centre Director Baburaj P. P. The region may see isolated thunderstorms, lightning and wind gusts up to 50 km ph during those two days.
Farmers in the Chittoor and Annamayya regions of Andhra Pradesh reported relief after the recent downpours ended a prolonged dry spell, improving soil moisture ahead of the upcoming rabi season.
Overall, the IMD’s series of alerts and the proactive steps taken by state governments underscore the seriousness of the impending cyclonic storm. Residents in the affected districts are being urged to stay informed, avoid unnecessary travel, especially fishermen, and cooperate with relief operations as the weather system progresses across the Bay of Bengal and onto the Indian coastline.
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