A weather system that social-media users have dubbed “Cyclone Arnab”, but which the India Meteorological Department (IMD) classifies as a deep depression, made land-fall near Kalingapatnam between 11 p.m. on 23 September and 1 a.m. on 24 September. IMD recorded sustained winds of 55-65 km/h, gusting to 75 km/h, prompting heavy-rain and wind warnings across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Local authorities in Puri have raised red flags and banned sea-bathing, while West Bengal has warned of thunderstorms and possible flooding. Transport infrastructure along the east-coast corridor is already feeling the strain. Visakhapatnam airport reported multiple delays, while East Coast Railway diverted or cancelled at least eight trains on the Howrah–Chennai line. State disaster-management teams in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha said water-logging and fallen trees had slowed road traffic on National Highways 16 and 53, the main arteries linking industrial hubs with ports. Business-travel managers should anticipate knock-on effects over the next 48 hours. Cargo movement out of Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Haldia ports could be delayed, affecting export schedules for minerals, pharmaceuticals and IT hardware. Travel-risk consultants are advising multinational firms to activate remote-working contingencies for staff based in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. The disruption underscores a broader challenge for India’s mobility ecosystem: climate-related events are occurring more frequently and with sharper operational impact. According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, weather-related flight delays have risen 23 % year-on-year since 2024. Companies with supply-chain or project personnel on the ground should review force-majeure clauses and ensure travellers have flexible tickets and comprehensive travel insurance that covers weather disruptions. For travellers already in the region, the IMD helpline (1800-180-1717) and state emergency numbers remain the quickest sources for ground updates. Authorities also advise checking directly with airlines and train operators before setting out, and avoiding coastal roads for at least the next 24 hours.
