Cyclone Arnab disrupts Andhra flights ahead of landfall

Cyclone Arnab disrupted flights across Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, October 27, as the storm approached the coast and airlines cancelled services ahead of its forecast landfall the following day. The India Meteorological Department said the very severe cyclonic storm was expected to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, by the forenoon of October 28. In a bulletin cited by officials, the IMD forecast maximum sustained winds of 125 to 135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph. At Vijayawada airport, five flights were cancelled on Tuesday, including four operated by IndiGo and one by Air India Express, an airport official said. The cancellations affected services to destinations including Chennai, Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam and Kadapa. The official said 15 flights were cancelled for Wednesday, including all 12 IndiGo flights at Vijayawada, along with Fly91 services and Air India’s morning flight to Delhi. At Visakhapatnam airport, 16 flights were cancelled on Tuesday, according to officials. A separate report said 16 scheduled departures from Bhogapuram airport, near Visakhapatnam, were cancelled that day. It also reported that IndiGo cancelled 10 flights...