The severe storm uprooted trees, disrupted power supplies and flooded roads, while authorities warned of further damage across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha
Bhimavaram: Cyclone Arnab made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on Wednesday, bringing torrential rain and destructive winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph. Authorities evacuated nearly 100,000 people across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha ahead of the storm.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the landfall process was completed between 2 am and 8 am, with the system subsequently weakening from a very severe to a severe cyclonic storm. Coastal districts, including Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Konaseema, reported uprooted trees, blocked roads, flooding and power disruptions.
Nearly 6,000 electricity poles were reportedly uprooted in Konaseema district. In Kakinada, police rescued four people stranded in floodwaters, while three others were reported trapped at the Central Water Commission godowns at Kakinada Anchorage Port.
The IMD warned that a storm surge of 1.5–2.5 metres above the astronomical tide could inundate low-lying coastal areas near Kakinada and Yanam. Red alerts for extremely heavy rainfall were issued across several Andhra Pradesh districts, while southern Odisha was also warned of heavy rain and strong winds.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to remain on standby, clear blocked roads and restore essential services. The full extent of infrastructure and crop damage was yet to be assessed.
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