Cyclone Arnab: How to Keep Your Drinking Water Safe Before and After the Storm
The wind and rain get all the headlines. The quieter danger arrives a day or two later, when the tap runs brown, the tank is full of floodwater and the first child in the lane gets loose motions.
Cyclone Arnab is expected to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday, 28 October. If you live anywhere in its path, arranging safe drinking water for your family is one of the most useful things you can do today. Here is a simple plan: what to do before landfall, how to make water safe afterwards, and when diarrhoea needs a doctor.
Where is Cyclone Arnab going, and who should prepare?
Deccan Herald reports that the storm is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam around the forenoon of 28 October, with sustained winds of 115-125 km/h and gusts up to 140 km/h. The same report says the IMD has issued a red alert for Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, where heavy to extremely heavy rain is forecast, and that Odisha has closed schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput and Malkangiri on 28 and 29 October.
In Andhra Pradesh, Deccan Chronicle reports that the IMD expects the system to become a very severe cyclonic storm by the morning of 28 October, with heavy to very heavy rain over coastal Andhra Pradesh from 27 to 29 October. For 28 October, the red alert for extremely heavy rain covers Visakhapatnam, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Anakapalle, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari, West Godavari, Eluru, NTR, Krishna and Guntur districts, and Yanam.
Tamil Nadu is already feeling it. LatestLY reports that several districts shut schools on 26 October and Chennai's ports hoisted warning signals. Check the IMD's official bulletins for the latest alerts, because cyclone paths can shift.
Why does water become unsafe after a cyclone?
Floodwater can mix with sewage and drain water, and it can reach storage tanks and open wells. You often cannot see the problem. India's National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM) says safe water is colourless, odourless, tasteless and free from chemical, biological and physical contamination. After a flood, water that merely looks clear may not meet that test.
The stakes are real. WHO estimates that about 505,000 diarrhoea deaths a year are linked to microbiologically contaminated drinking water, and that such water can transmit cholera, dysentery and typhoid.
What should I do before the cyclone arrives?
Do these today, while taps still run and shops are open.
- Fill clean, covered containers with drinking water. Wash the containers first and keep the lids on. NIDM advises storing water safely and covering it to prevent contamination.
- Work out how much your household needs. The Daily Water Intake Calculator gives a starting figure for each person. Multiply it by the number of days you want to cover, and add extra for cooking.
- Pack water purification tablets in your go-bag. They are on NIDM's go-bag list, along with soap, masks, first-aid supplies and prescribed medicines.
- Buy a few ORS sachets and keep them dry.
- Save the emergency helpline, 112, on your phone.
How do I make water safe to drink after a flood?
If you are unsure about a water source, treat it. The table below shows the options NIDM lists, and what to keep in mind for each.
Also, collect water from a protected water point, and avoid touching the water while filling, carrying or pouring it. Wash your hands with soap and water before handling water or food, and after using the toilet. This is NIDM's advice too.
What else spreads disease after a cyclone?
Standing water breeds mosquitoes. NIDM advises removing stagnant water around your house or camp to prevent mosquito breeding, and using a toilet instead of open defecation. We explained how dengue and water-borne illness rise together in Why Monsoon 2026 Is Making So Many People Sick. If you wonder whether a home test kit can confirm that your water is safe, read DIY Water Test Kits: What They Can (And Can't) Actually Detect.
When does diarrhoea need a doctor?
Diarrhoea is treated with oral rehydration solution (ORS). WHO describes it as a solution of clean water, sugar and salt that replaces the water and electrolytes lost in the stool. Make ORS with water you have already made safe.
Get medical help for persistent diarrhoea, blood in the stool or signs of dehydration. WHO lists sunken eyes, restlessness, unusual thirst or being unable to drink as signs to watch for, especially in children. For the early signs of dehydration in humid weather, see Monsoon Dehydration in India: The Warning Signs You're Missing.
Is bottled water safe to drink after a cyclone?
Sealed bottled water from a trusted brand is a sensible backup if the seal is intact. Once opened, store it covered and finish it soon. If you cannot get sealed water, boil or treat what you have.
Can I use floodwater for washing utensils?
Avoid it. Floodwater can carry sewage. Use treated water for washing utensils and for rinsing food that you will eat raw.
How long should I keep storing water?
Keep a supply for as many days as authorities expect supply disruption, and refill the containers once the cyclone has passed. Follow the instructions of your district administration.
What is the emergency number during a cyclone?
NIDM's toolkit lists 112 as the helpline.
If you want to keep a few sealed bottles at home, Amaayu's functional waters are one option. Electrolyte or packaged water is not a substitute for ORS when someone has diarrhoea.
This article is general information, not medical advice. Cyclone paths and alerts change quickly; follow the IMD and your state authorities for the latest. For persistent diarrhoea, vomiting or signs of dehydration, consult a registered medical practitioner.