Cyclone Arnab Crosses Andhra Coast, Weakens After Mass Evacuations

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone Arnab 'practically stationary,' landfall process to continue for 2-3 hours, says IMD | LIVE: Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on Wednesday morning before weakening into a severe cyclonic storm. According to the Indian Express, the system made landfall near Narsapur in West Godavari district around 3 a.m. with winds of 125 to 135 kmph gusting to 150 kmph, affecting eight coastal districts.

Relief and Rescue

More than 84,000 people were moved to 290 relief shelters across vulnerable areas. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu confirmed that no loss of life has been reported so far, crediting advance precautionary measures taken by the administration. Kakinada police also rescued four people who were trapped overnight inside a Central Warehousing Corporation godown after water entered the campus.

Damage and Restoration

High-speed winds knocked down trees across Yanam and Kakinada, blocking streets and roads between Kakinada and Amalapuram. National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams began clearing roads and restoring power. Banana and coconut plantations suffered damage in the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, and some old buildings collapsed, though no injuries occurred.

Rainfall Impact

North coastal Andhra Pradesh received the heaviest downpour. Kannuripalem in Anakapalli district recorded about 263 mm of rain in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday morning, while Bhogapuram in Vizianagaram and the 16th Police Battalion campus in Visakhapatnam saw 263 mm and 260 mm respectively.

Context

Cyclone landfalls in coastal Andhra Pradesh often trigger heavy downpours and strong winds that disrupt transport and power supplies. Authorities rely on early warnings and large-scale shelter evacuations to prevent casualties during severe weather events.