Urgent India travel advisory update warns Canadians of potential safety risk
Canada updated its travel advice for India, alerting travellers to a possible safety risk during their visit.
On Tuesday, the Government of Canada updated its travel advisory for India, urging people to avoid non-essential travel to certain coastal regions in Andhra Pradesh due to a cyclone.
“Cyclone Arnab is expected to make landfall on the coast of Andhra Pradesh, between the mouth of the Krishna River and Visakhapatnam, on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026,” reads the statement.
The advisory warns that the tropical storm could bring heavy rainfall and violent winds, resulting in flash flooding and landslides that could severely impact essential services. Access to transportation, power distribution, water and food supply, telecommunications networks, emergency services, and medical care could also be severely disrupted. Reuters reports that thousands of people along the coast have already been evacuated a day before the cyclone’s expected landfall, and some train services have been cancelled.
Canada is urging travellers who are already in the affected area to exercise caution, monitor local news and weather reports, and follow instructions of local authorities, including evacuation orders.
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The India Meteorological Department warns of strong winds and gusts of 150 kmph Wednesday morning and possible storm surges of up to 1.5 to 2.5 metres above astronomical tide, with peak surges expected near Kakinada and Yanam (Puducherry).
India’s coastlines are subject to cyclones between April and December. It’s important to be aware of the safety risks when travelling to coastal areas during that period, and be prepared to change, shorten, or cancel your trip. Make sure to stay up to date on regional weather forecasts and to carry emergency contact information for your airline or tour operator.
If you’re travelling internationally, make sure to sign up for the Registration of Canadians Abroad (ROCA), a free and confidential service that notifies Canadian citizens outside the country of an emergency abroad or a personal emergency at home.
India is prone to extreme weather such as avalanches, cyclones, dust storms, earthquakes, floods, and landslides. The risk of climate-related hazards may be heightened by El Niño, a complex, cyclical climate phenomenon that affects temperature and rainfall patterns around the world.