CYCLONE ARNAB WEAKENS AFTER BATTERING ANDHRA COAST; NO DEATHS REPORTED AS RESCUE AND RESTORATION EFFORTS BEGIN
October 28, 2026
AMARAVATI, OCTOBER 28, 2026 — Cyclone Arnab weakened after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast early Wednesday, bringing powerful winds, torrential rainfall and widespread disruption to coastal communities. Although authorities reported no loss of life in the initial assessments, the storm left damaged roads, uprooted trees, disrupted electricity supplies and placed vulnerable settlements under the threat of flooding.
The India Meteorological Department reported that the very severe cyclonic storm crossed the coast between approximately 2 am and 8 am, with the centre moving inland near Narsapur in West Godavari district. After completing its landfall, Arnab weakened into a severe cyclonic storm. The weather department expected the system to lose further strength as it advanced inland, although heavy rainfall and strong winds remained immediate concerns.
During landfall, the cyclone carried maximum sustained winds of approximately 125–135 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching around 150 kilometres per hour. These conditions posed a serious threat to coastal infrastructure, electricity networks, agricultural land, thatched houses and low-lying settlements. Meteorological warnings also highlighted the possibility of storm surges and localised flooding in areas exposed to the sea.
The authorities began precautionary evacuations before the cyclone reached the coast. Reports on Wednesday morning put the number of people moved from vulnerable locations in Andhra Pradesh at tens of thousands, with some estimates exceeding 80,000. Other reports indicated that the evacuation operation extended across neighbouring Odisha, bringing the combined number of people moved to safety in the two states to more than 180,000.
Relief shelters were established to accommodate residents from vulnerable coastal communities. Disaster-response personnel were deployed for emergency assistance, while local administrations worked to keep people away from dangerous shorelines and areas threatened by flooding. Fishermen had been warned against venturing into the sea, and restrictions on transport and other precautionary measures were introduced as the storm approached.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said no casualties had been reported so far and credited advance preparations by the administration with helping prevent loss of life. During a teleconference with approximately 32,000 officials and personnel, including district collectors, he directed the authorities to minimise property damage and restore normal conditions as quickly as possible.
The Chief Minister also instructed officials to clear roads obstructed by fallen trees, restore electricity once wind conditions permitted and ensure that relief camps had sufficient food, drinking water and medical facilities. Authorities were directed to assess damage to agricultural and horticultural crops and monitor vulnerable water infrastructure.
The absence of reported fatalities provided an encouraging early indication of the effectiveness of evacuation and preparedness measures. Nevertheless, the human and economic consequences of the storm could not be measured solely by the initial casualty figures. Damage to homes, roads, power lines, fishing infrastructure and farmland can leave families without essential services and livelihoods long after a cyclone has weakened.
Coastal districts experienced intense rainfall and powerful winds as Arnab crossed the shoreline. Reports described fallen trees, damaged electricity poles, waterlogging and disruption to road movement. Some transport services were cancelled or affected, while airport operations faced precautionary suspensions. Restoration work depended partly on the weather improving sufficiently for personnel to work safely.
The cyclone also created risks beyond the immediate landfall zone. Heavy rainfall was forecast to continue across parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha, raising concerns about flooding in low-lying areas and the possibility of further disruption as the system moved inland. Authorities therefore continued to emphasise caution even after the cyclone's classification was downgraded.
The scale of evacuation reflected the danger posed by a powerful storm approaching one of India's densely populated coastal regions. The Bay of Bengal has historically produced destructive cyclones, and the experience of previous disasters has underlined the importance of accurate warnings, timely evacuation, accessible shelters and coordinated emergency response.
Arnab's weakening marks a transition from immediate storm preparedness to rescue, damage assessment and restoration. The priority for the authorities is now to ensure that residents remain safe, essential services are restored, damaged infrastructure is repaired and affected households receive the assistance they need. While the initial absence of reported casualties is significant, the full extent of the cyclone's impact will become clearer only as assessments continue and conditions across the affected districts stabilise.
