India, thousands of people will be evacuated due to Cyclone Arnab

Indian authorities have announced the evacuation of people in areas considered most "vulnerable" in view of Cyclone Arnab, which according to the meteorological department is expected to reach the eastern coasts of India in the early hours of tomorrow. Indian media report that the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh plan to evacuate thousands of people and have also ordered the closure of schools and a ban on sea fishing.

A senior official told the PTI agency that the Odisha (or Orissa) government plans to evacuate "at least 48,000 people living in low-lying areas or landslide-prone areas" by this evening, while according to The Hindu newspaper the evacuation of "89,000 people" is underway from the Kakinada area in Andhra Pradesh.

Weather warnings have also been issued in Nepal and Sri Lanka, underlines the France Presse agency.