Schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres have been shut in several districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as Cyclone Arnab heads towards the east coast. The very severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday morning, October 28, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rain and strong winds.
District administrations have announced holidays for October 27 to 29 in the worst-affected areas. Here is the complete district-wise list of school holidays due to Cyclone Arnab.
Cyclone Arnab School Holiday in Andhra Pradesh
In Andhra Pradesh, District Collectors have declared holidays for government and private schools in coastal districts. In several districts, colleges and Anganwadi centres are also closed.
| District | Holiday Dates |
|---|---|
| Visakhapatnam | October 27 and 28 |
| Anakapalli | October 27 to 29 |
| Kakinada | October 27 and 28 |
| Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema | October 27 and 28 |
| East Godavari | October 27 and 28 |
| Eluru | October 27 and 28 |
| Krishna | October 27 and 28 |
| NTR | October 27 and 28 |
| Vizianagaram | October 27 and 28 |
| Polavaram | October 27 and 28 |
In Alluri Sitarama Raju district, officials have said the holiday does not apply to residential schools and hostels. Dates may be extended in some districts depending on the weather, so parents should follow the latest orders from their District Collector.
Cyclone Arnab School Holiday in Odisha
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered the closure of schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in five southern districts after a high-level review meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan. These districts are under an orange alert for heavy rain.
| District | Closed On |
|---|---|
| Ganjam | October 28 and 29 |
| Gajapati | October 28 and 29 |
| Rayagada | October 28 and 29 |
| Koraput | October 28 and 29 |
| Malkangiri | October 28 and 29 |
There is no statewide school holiday in Odisha. Collectors of other districts will decide on closures based on local conditions.
Other States
Heavy rain has also led to closures in a few areas outside Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Schools in Dindigul and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu were closed from October 26, and schools and colleges in Karaikal, Puducherry, were closed on October 27. Telangana may also receive rain as the cyclone moves inland after landfall, so parents there should keep an eye on local district orders.
Exams Postponed Due to Cyclone Arnab
JNTU Kakinada has postponed all supplementary exams that were scheduled from October 27 to 29. Acharya N.G. Ranga Agricultural University has also deferred its UG counselling from October 27. New dates will be announced later. Colleges in affected areas may reschedule internal tests and lab sessions, and students are not expected to be penalised for absence during notified holidays.
Cyclone Arnab: Latest Weather Update
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Arnab is likely to cross the coast with wind speeds of 115 to 125 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph. Heavy to extremely heavy rain is expected over north and central coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha on October 27 and 28.
The Andhra Pradesh government has released Rs 27 crore to 20 districts for cyclone preparedness and relief, and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has ordered round-the-clock monitoring and control rooms. In Odisha, around 5.7 lakh people have been identified as vulnerable, and evacuations are underway.
Safety Tips for Students and Parents
- Stay indoors during the cyclone and avoid going near the sea, rivers and low-lying areas.
- Keep phones charged and a torch, drinking water and basic medicines ready.
- Follow only official updates from the District Collector, IMD and the state government.
- Check school and college WhatsApp groups and official websites for reopening dates.
For travel updates, read our full list of trains cancelled due to Cyclone Arnab.