Cyclone Arnab Makes Landfall in Andhra Pradesh After 89,000 Evacuated

Cyclone Arnab crossed the coast of Andhra Pradesh in the early hours of Wednesday, bringing heavy to very heavy rainfall and strong winds to the region. The landfall occurred a day after authorities moved tens of thousands of residents out of vulnerable coastal zones. State disaster management head Prakhar Jain reported that the system weakened slightly before hitting the ground, though it continued to cause widespread disruption across several districts. Officials confirmed no immediate casualties as of late Wednesday morning, while noting some damage in affected areas.

The threat to the population is substantial, with state officials stating that more than 12 million people live along the cyclone's projected path. In response, authorities placed all coastal districts on high alert on Tuesday. This decision triggered a massive logistical operation to move people from low-lying and flood-prone areas. According to an official statement, at least 89,000 people in Andhra Pradesh have been evacuated so far. In the neighboring state of Odisha, planners aimed to move approximately 48,000 people from zones likely to be impacted.

Infrastructure and emergency resources were mobilized in the days leading up to the storm. Authorities canceled select train services as heavy rain and gusty winds began affecting the coast early. More than 30,000 fishing boats were secured along the shoreline to prevent them from being swept away or colliding. Jain said the state set up over 2,000 cyclone shelters across 20 districts. Additionally, nearly 1,100 medical teams were deployed to provide emergency assistance, and emergency alerts were sent to the mobile phones of millions of residents.

The storm's trajectory shifted earlier than forecasters initially predicted. Outer bands of Cyclone Arnab began lashing parts of the Andhra Pradesh coast late Tuesday. At that time, the system was intensifying over the Bay of Bengal before moving toward its eventual landfall point. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated that the landfall process was complete by Wednesday. The agency classified the system as a severe cyclonic storm in a Wednesday update.

Wind speeds reached up to 135 kph, or 84 mph, late Wednesday morning. The IMD indicated that the cyclone would continue to weaken as it moved inland. Officials expect wind speeds to ease later in the day. However, the department warned that heavy rainfall and strong winds would persist under the cyclone's influence in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and parts of southern Odisha.