Cyclone Arnab weakened after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast early on Wednesday, but heavy rain, strong winds and flash-flood risks continued across several districts, with at least three people dead, about 57,000 moved to relief camps and flight services disrupted.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclone crossed the coast about 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, completing landfall by 8.30 am. The storm then weakened from a very severe to a severe cyclonic storm. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said around 57,000 people have been shifted to relief camps.
The cyclone claimed three lives in separate incidents. A man died after a tree fell on him in Bhimavaram, while two people were electrocuted in Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a central team to assess the damage. He said paddy crops across nearly 70,900 hectares and horticultural crops covering 10,450 hectares had been damaged or submerged, and around 180 houses were affected. The storm also disrupted transport and electricity supplies. Seventeen of the 21 flights scheduled at Vijayawada airport on Wednesday were cancelled, while 38 flights at Visakhapatnam airport were cancelled, including services to Bangkok and Abu Dhabi.
The IMD has issued a moderate-to-high flash-flood risk warning for 13 Andhra Pradesh districts until 5.30 am on Thursday: Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, Eluru, NTR, East and West Godavari, Kakinada, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli and Parvathipuram Manyam. Rainfall shifted towards the central coastal districts as the cyclone moved inland. Gudavalli in Bapatla recorded around 105 mm between 8.30 am and 3 pm on Wednesday, while Bodagunta in Krishna district received 100 mm and Ghantasala about 95 mm.
Odisha is bracing for strong winds as the weakened cyclone spreads rain. IMD Bhubaneswar Director Manorama Mohanty said the system is expected to move northwest and reach Malkangiri in Odisha by Wednesday night, according to PTI. Winds of 60-70 kmph, with gusts up to 80 kmph, are likely in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts. Parts of West Bengal are also preparing for heavy rainfall. The IMD has forecast heavy rain at isolated places in South 24 Parganas, East and West Midnapore, and Jhargram until Thursday morning. Bankura, Purulia and West Burdwan may also receive heavy rain on Thursday, while Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in north Bengal could see heavy showers on Thursday and Friday.
Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan reviewed relief operations with district Collectors. Officials reported damage to 93 roads and the uprooting of around 736 trees in East Godavari district alone. In Kakinada, 92 habitations have been affected and 9,870 people are staying in relief camps. Pawan Kalyan directed officials to ensure people return home only after the winds subside and rainfall eases, and urged residents to remain alert for the next two days as relief and restoration work continues.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/cyclone-arnab-weakens-after-crossing-andhra-coast-leaves-3-dead-odisha-bengal-brace-for-heavy-rain-14056085.html
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Publish Date: 2026-10-28 18:17:00
