Cyclone Arnab weakens after Andhra Pradesh landfall as state reports zero casualties

UPDATE - follow-up to Very severe cyclone Arnab crosses Andhra coast, weakens into severe cyclonic storm: IMD | LIVE: Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on Wednesday morning before weakening from a very severe to a severe cyclonic storm, with the India Meteorological Department stating that its landfall process is complete as the system moved entirely over land.

Landfall And Impacts

The system crossed the coast between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., moving to the southwest of Yanam and roughly 20 kilometres east-northeast of Narsapur, with maximum sustained winds reaching 125 to 135 kmph and gusting up to 150 kmph. Eight coastal districts faced heavy rain and strong winds, with over 84,000 people evacuated to shelters by the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority. North coastal areas recorded the heaviest downpours, reaching about 263 mm in Anakapalli and Vizianagaram districts. Kakinada police rescued four workers stranded overnight inside a Central Warehousing Corporation godown after water flooded the campus.

Relief And Recovery

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that no loss of life has been reported so far, crediting advance precautionary measures taken by the administration. The government converted hundreds of schools into relief camps, barricaded unsafe buildings, and closed schools across 16 coastal districts. Over 17,000 volunteers alongside National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed to clear fallen trees and restore blocked roads, while Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan urged party workers to join relief efforts.

Context

Coastal regions in India frequently face severe tropical storms from the Bay of Bengal during the monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, requiring extensive advance evacuations and disaster management preparations. Governments routinely deploy specialized rescue forces and set up temporary relief camps in school buildings to protect residents from high-speed winds and floods.