CYCLONE ARNAB’S TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION: THREE DEAD, THOUSANDS DISPLACED AS ANDHRA COAST REELS FROM THE STORM
October 28, 2026
AMARAVATI, OCTOBER 28, 2026 — Andhra Pradesh is assessing the human and material cost of Cyclone Arnab after the powerful storm crossed the state’s coastline, killing at least three people, damaging homes and roads, uprooting hundreds of trees and electricity poles, and disrupting essential services across several coastal districts. With tens of thousands of residents moved into relief camps, emergency personnel are working to clear debris, restore electricity and reopen transport routes as heavy rainfall continues to threaten vulnerable areas.
The cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast during the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, after intensifying over the Bay of Bengal. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the landfall process was completed by the morning, with the system weakening from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm. Maximum sustained winds during landfall reached approximately 125–135 kilometres per hour, with gusts reaching 150 kilometres per hour.
Although the storm weakened after moving over land, its passage left a trail of disruption across coastal communities, agricultural areas and transport infrastructure.
THREE DEATHS REPORTED AS ELECTRICAL HAZARDS EMERGE
Authorities reported three deaths associated with the cyclone in Andhra Pradesh. Two people died in separate electrocution incidents involving exposed or fallen electrical wires. A 53-year-old man died in Visakhapatnam district on Tuesday night after coming into contact with a live wire that had snapped across an agricultural field channel. On Wednesday morning, a 55-year-old woman died after stepping on an exposed live wire outside her home in Yellamanchili town in Anakapalli district.
The circumstances surrounding the third death were not specified in the preliminary information released by disaster-management officials.
The incidents highlight the dangers that persist after a cyclone's strongest winds have passed. Fallen electrical lines, damaged poles, waterlogged roads and unstable structures can continue to threaten residents and emergency workers during recovery operations.
Officials have urged caution in affected areas as restoration work proceeds.
COASTAL DISTRICTS BEAR THE BRUNT
Kakinada, Konaseema, Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli were among the districts affected by strong winds and intense rainfall. Hundreds of trees were uprooted, while electricity poles collapsed, roads were blocked and power supplies were interrupted.
The Uppada coastal road in Kakinada district was reported to have been completely washed away, illustrating the force of the waves and coastal weather conditions. In Alluri Sitaramaraju district, an old bridge at Tadiguda village in Anantagiri mandal was washed away, temporarily isolating a hamlet. Officials said alternative arrangements were being made while restoration work continued.
In Visakhapatnam, district authorities reported that approximately 400 trees had fallen. Municipal and road-maintenance teams were clearing debris to reopen affected routes and facilitate the movement of emergency services.
Konaseema also suffered extensive disruption, with gusts reaching around 130 kilometres per hour in some locations. Fallen trees and poles obstructed roads and interrupted electricity and communications. Standing paddy and horticultural crops were among the agricultural assets exposed to the storm's impact.
Initial assessments indicated that 31 houses of various types had been damaged across Andhra Pradesh. Authorities cautioned that further assessment would be required to establish the full extent of losses.
MASS EVACUATIONS HELP PROTECT VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
The scale of the evacuation operation was one of the defining features of the response to Cyclone Arnab. According to the National Disaster Response Force, around 57,000 people had been moved to relief camps in Andhra Pradesh. Additional evacuations took place in neighbouring Odisha, while 38 people were evacuated from Yanam on Tuesday night.
In Konaseema, more than 10,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas, and approximately 495 cyclone shelters and temporary relief centres were established, according to district police officials.
The evacuation figures reported by different agencies varied as operations continued and assessments were updated. Nevertheless, the movement of large numbers of residents away from exposed coastal and flood-prone locations formed a central part of the state's emergency response.
The administration's priorities included ensuring food, drinking water and medical facilities at shelters, assisting displaced households and keeping emergency teams ready for rescue operations. Authorities also sought to protect residents from secondary hazards, particularly damaged electrical infrastructure and roads obstructed by fallen trees.
CHIEF MINISTER ORDERS RAPID RESTORATION
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation on Wednesday and directed officials to restore normal conditions as quickly as possible.
During a teleconference involving approximately 32,000 personnel, including district collectors, Naidu instructed officials to clear roads blocked by fallen trees within two hours and remove obstructions on national highways without delay. He also ordered electricity restoration once wind conditions became safe for repair crews.
The chief minister directed officials to maintain adequate supplies of food, drinking water and medical assistance at cyclone shelters. He also called for measures to protect agricultural and horticultural crops, prevent breaches in tanks and canals, and prepare preliminary estimates of damage.
The state administration kept disaster-response personnel on standby while local authorities coordinated road clearance, electrical repairs and relief operations.
The National Disaster Response Force deployed 39 teams across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and other potentially affected regions, including neighbouring states and Union territories. Four additional teams were sent to Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night.
EXTREME RAINFALL ADDS TO THE RECOVERY CHALLENGE
The cyclone brought exceptionally heavy rainfall to several coastal districts. The IMD reported that rainfall exceeding 200 millimetres was recorded at multiple locations in Anakapalli, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam between the morning of October 27 and the early hours of October 28.
Kannuripalem in Anakapalli recorded 261.5 millimetres, while other locations in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam also received more than 250 millimetres during the reported period.
The combination of heavy rainfall, storm-driven winds and coastal waves created risks of waterlogging, road damage and disruption to agricultural activity. State officials warned that substantial rainfall could continue through Wednesday and Thursday as the weather system moved inland and weakened further.
Even where major flooding had not been reported, authorities remained concerned about rising water levels and the possibility of further damage to vulnerable infrastructure.
TRANSPORT AND ESSENTIAL SERVICES UNDER PRESSURE
The cyclone's approach and landfall disrupted travel, with flights cancelled at airports in Andhra Pradesh and rail services affected by precautionary measures. Fallen trees and damaged roads complicated movement in some areas, while electricity outages affected households and local services.
Restoration teams concentrated on reopening major highways and reconnecting electricity supplies. In some districts, officials expected major routes to be cleared within hours, although the removal of debris from smaller roads and remote communities was likely to take longer.
The impact on roads, power lines and agricultural land also raised concerns about the economic consequences for coastal residents, farmers and small businesses. A more complete picture of the damage is expected to emerge as inspections continue.
THE WORK CONTINUES AFTER LANDFALL
Cyclone Arnab's weakening does not mean that the emergency has ended. The immediate challenge is to ensure that displaced residents can return safely, restore basic services and prevent further casualties caused by damaged infrastructure and continuing rainfall.
The three reported deaths underscore the human cost of the storm, while the destruction of roads, trees, power poles and other infrastructure demonstrates the vulnerability of coastal communities to severe weather.
For Andhra Pradesh's administration and emergency services, the coming days will be critical. The focus has shifted from preparing for landfall to relief, damage assessment and reconstruction—work that will determine how quickly affected communities can return to normal life.
