Hyderabad, Oct. 28 -- Thousands across several states are set to be evacuated, and rescue teams were deployed as authorities stepped up preparedness for very severe cyclonic storm Arnab over the west-central Bay of Bengal, which is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam with winds of up to 140 kmph on Wednesday forenoon. Heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was expected in isolated places. Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have been placed on alert for heavy rain and strong winds. On Monday, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) held an emergency meeting with representatives from these states. An orange alert, indicating disruptions, heavy to very heavy rainfall and potential hazards, was sounded in Odisha's Puri, Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri districts. A yellow alert, indicating moderate to severe weather conditions, was issued for 16 other districts. A red warning for heavy to very heavy rainfall has been issued for some places, with extremely heavy rain forecast at one or two places in Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri, accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph, for Wednesday and Thursday. The Odisha fire and emergency services department has mobilised 225 teams across the state's southern parts. Fire officer Ramesh Majhi said 245 teams have been asked to remain ready. Majhi said 34 teams have been deployed in Ganjam and Gajapati, equipped to clear uprooted trees, restore road connectivity, and rescue people from flooded areas. Teams in Ganjam have been provided with mechanical power saws, telescopic tower lights, rubber boats, combi tools and high-capacity pumps. In Gajapati, rescue teams have been equipped with boats, cutting equipment and lighting systems. Personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire services have been put on alert. Authorities have arranged 135 high-capacity pumps to drain water from inundated areas. In Ganjam, public access to all beaches, including tourist destinations, has been prohibited until Friday. Special relief commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil said 135 cyclone shelters and 1,600 temporary accommodation centres are ready for evacuations. The Odisha government ordered closure of schools in Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Ganjam and Puri as a precautionary measure from Tuesday. The Odisha Public Service Commission rescheduled the civil services examination to October 31 and November 5. The Odisha government urged news outlets, digital content creators and social media platforms to rely on official weather bulletins and avoid circulating unverified cyclone tracks, landfall predictions or impact assessments. It said speculative forecasts could create panic, disrupt economic activity and undermine public confidence in disaster-response measures. In Andhra Pradesh, the cyclone impact began early Tuesday, with gusty winds reported from coastal districts. Heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds was expected to intensify in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. State disaster management authority managing director Prakhar Jain said the cyclone moved at a speed of 25 kmph for six hours. The cyclone was expected to continue west-northwestward before turning northwestward, with winds along the coast reaching speeds of 90-100 kmph. The wind speeds during landfall may increase to 115-125 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 140 kmph. Widespread rainfall was forecast across Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday and Wednesday. Extremely heavy rainfall was likely in some districts. The combination of heavy rain and strong winds was likely to damage trees, electricity infrastructure, temporary structures and buildings in vulnerable areas. Jain appealed to people to remain alert, avoid unnecessary travel and stay indoors in safe locations. He warned people against standing near trees, large hoardings and dilapidated buildings, which could collapse or be uprooted in strong winds. On Wednesday, extremely heavy rainfall is forecast in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Polavaram, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR and Krishna districts. Authorities cautioned that rainfall intensity and the geographical spread of the impact will depend on the cyclone's movement and the conditions prevailing during landfall. Eight SDRF teams and seven NDRF teams have been kept ready in Andhra Pradesh. An additional three SDRF teams and five NDRF teams are available for deployment, if required. As many as 115 teams have been deployed for removing fallen trees. Rescue teams equipped with 13 boats have been prepared to respond to emergencies, including road blockages and flooding. The Andhra Pradesh government on Monday night released Rs 27 crore for cyclone-related preparedness and relief operations. Jain said people should not panic but must remain vigilant and comply with official advisories. Residents in vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas have been urged to take precautionary measures and remain in safe locations. Officials said people can seek a faster response to cyclone-related problems through the Mana Mitra WhatsApp number: 9552300009. They added that the administration is focusing on preparedness, emergency response and the prevention of loss of life and property. Departments were coordinating precautionary measures, evacuation plans and emergency response operations....