Cyclone Arnab hits Andhra Pradesh: 57,000 evacuated as three deaths reported, coastal damage mounts

The worst of Cyclone Arnab’s winds may have passed, but the work of protecting lives and restoring normalcy in Andhra Pradesh is far from over. After hours of powerful winds and heavy rain battered the coast, the storm completed landfall on Wednesday morning, leaving damaged roads, disrupted electricity supplies and uprooted trees in its wake.

More than 57,000 people were moved to relief camps in Andhra Pradesh, according to an update from a senior National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officer reported by PTI. Three deaths had also been reported by Wednesday afternoon. Authorities have deployed disaster-response teams as the state begins assessing the damage and preparing for further rainfall.

Where did Cyclone Arnab make landfall, and how strong was it?

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, south-west of Yanam, during the early hours of October 28. The landfall process was complete by around 8 am, with the storm bringing sustained winds of 125–135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph.

According to the IMD’s October 28 bulletin, the system had weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm after moving over land. It was expected to lose strength further, eventually becoming a deep depression. However, weakening winds do not eliminate the risks posed by intense rainfall, flooding and damage to already vulnerable coastal areas.

How many people have been evacuated, and what is the death toll?

The scale of the evacuation reflects the seriousness of the threat. NDRF DIG (Operations) SS Soodan told ANI that 39 NDRF teams had been deployed, including four airlifted to support the response. More than 55,000 people had been evacuated by the time of his statement.

A later update reported by PTI put the number shifted to relief camps at around 57,000. NDRF Inspector General Narendra Singh Bundela said three people had died and 31 houses of different types had been damaged.

There had been an earlier statement from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu saying no deaths had been reported at that stage. The subsequent NDRF update indicated that the casualty position had changed as more information emerged.

What damage has Cyclone Arnab caused along the coast?

Coastal districts bore the brunt of the storm’s winds. The Times of India reported that hundreds of trees and electric poles were uprooted, disrupting power and communications in parts of Kakinada and nearby areas. The Uppada coastal road near Kakinada suffered severe damage from powerful waves and coastal erosion, with restoration work beginning.

Officials have been directed to clear roads, restore electricity when conditions permit, and ensure that relief camps have food, drinking water and medical facilities. Damage assessments, including to standing crops, are also expected to guide recovery work.

Will Odisha face more rain after Cyclone Arnab?

The threat extends beyond Andhra Pradesh. The IMD warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall in parts of Odisha, with rough seas and strong winds adding to the risks along the coast. Authorities in affected districts have been preparing for continued rain and possible localised flooding.

For residents, the immediate priority remains to follow official weather alerts, avoid flooded roads and damaged coastal stretches, and stay in designated shelters until local authorities say it is safe to return. Even after a cyclone weakens, the rain and destruction it leaves behind can continue to endanger lives.

(With inputs from ANI)