The storm weakened after making landfall with winds of up to 135 kmph, leaving power disruptions, damaged crops and homes, and thousands evacuated across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Vizag/Bhubaneswar/New Delhi: Cyclone Arnab claimed eight lives in Andhra Pradesh after making landfall along the state’s coast and the adjoining Yanam region early on Wednesday, triggering destructive winds, torrential rain, flooding and widespread damage to infrastructure. The storm has since weakened, but heavy rainfall remains a concern in parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced an ex gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the family of each person killed in cyclone-related incidents. He also contacted Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought the deployment of a central team to assess the damage and support relief and rehabilitation efforts.
The fatalities reportedly occurred in several districts, including West Godavari, Konaseema, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli. The incidents involved falling trees, collapsing electric poles, a damaged thatched house and electrocution from exposed or snapped live wires. Earlier preliminary information provided by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had put the death toll at three, before the later report cited eight fatalities.
Naidu’s letter to the Centre cited damage to agricultural land and homes. Paddy crops across approximately 70,900 hectares and horticultural crops over 10,450 hectares were reported to be inundated or damaged, while around 180 houses were affected. Power supply to more than 25 lakh connections was disrupted across north and central Andhra Pradesh.
Air travel was also affected, with 38 flights cancelled at Visakhapatnam airport and 17 services at Vijayawada airport, according to the information provided by the state government. Strong winds uprooted trees and electricity poles, damaged roads and disrupted communication networks in several coastal districts.
Cyclone weakens after landfall
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, southwest of Yanam and near Narsapur, between 2 am and 8 am on Wednesday. At landfall, it was classified as a very severe cyclonic storm, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph.
The system subsequently weakened into a severe cyclonic storm. In its bulletin issued at 5.30 pm on Wednesday, the IMD said it had weakened further into a cyclonic storm and was centred over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and the adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. The weather agency expected it to weaken into a deep depression by midnight and lose strength gradually thereafter.
Odisha faces heavy rainfall
Although the cyclone’s impact was most severe in Andhra Pradesh, southern Odisha also experienced persistent rainfall, waterlogging and disruption. The IMD issued a red warning for extremely heavy rainfall in vulnerable southern districts, including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur, according to the alerts reported during the day. Orange and yellow warnings covered other parts of the state.
Several locations recorded substantial rainfall. Puri received 78.3 mm, Chhatrapur 61.4 mm and Gopalpur 50 mm, while Paralakhemundi recorded more than 40 mm. Bhubaneswar had received 24.2 mm by 5.30 pm, with the total exceeding 30 mm later in the evening.
The Odisha government also mobilised disaster-response resources and moved people from vulnerable areas to safer locations.
Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said the state had achieved its zero-casualty target during Cyclone Arnab, with no deaths reported so far, crediting extensive preparedness and coordinated emergency response.
A total of 43,827 people were evacuated to 634 relief camps across eight districts, while 313 response teams were deployed. The government also shifted 2,245 pregnant women to health centres, where 931 babies were delivered safely, and ensured the safe return of all 19,143 fishing boats. Potangi in Koraput recorded the highest rainfall at 188 mm, followed by Mohana in Gajapati at 182.4 mm.
Earlier, Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh Prabhakar Patil briefed the Chief Minister on the cyclone’s status and its impact on Odisha. Majhi also interacted with Deputy Chief Ministers and Ministers overseeing different districts to review rainfall, damage, river water levels and relief camp arrangements.
Rescue and relief operations continue
The NDRF said 39 teams had been deployed across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and neighbouring areas expected to experience the effects of the weather system. Four additional teams were sent to Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night. Around 57,000 people had been moved to relief camps in Andhra Pradesh, while 38 people were evacuated from Yanam on Tuesday night, according to the force’s preliminary update.
The IMD has warned that rainfall could continue in parts of Andhra Pradesh even as the cyclone weakens. Authorities are continuing relief operations, assessing damage and working to restore essential services.
With the storm moving inland, attention has shifted to the risk of further flooding, damage to crops and disruption in southern Odisha and adjoining states, including Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand.
