Cyclone Arnab completes Andhra landfall and loses strength, authorities launch massive cleanup

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 between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Wednesday, packing winds of 125 to 135 kmph with gusts up to 150 kmph, before dropping in intensity to a severe cyclonic storm as it moved entirely over land. The India Meteorological Department stated the system crossed near latitude 16.450 N and 81.90 E, positioned about 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km southwest of Yanam, and 60 km southwest of Kakinada.

Relief and Casualties

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that advance precautionary measures helped prevent widespread casualties, though two deaths occurred after victims came into contact with exposed live wires in Yellamanchili and Visakhapatnam. The Indian Express reported that over 84,000 people were moved to safety across multiple shelters, while the state government converted 609 school campuses into relief centers and barricaded 78 unsafe buildings. Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan urged party workers to join relief operations as heavy rain continued across coastal districts.

Transport and Infrastructure

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that fallen trees blocked tracks at 10 locations but were cleared promptly, though several special trains were cancelled or diverted, including the Narasapur-Tuticorin Special and Narasapur-Thiruvannamalai Express. Thirty-eight flights to and from Visakhapatnam airport faced cancellation, affecting international routes to Bangkok and Abu Dhabi, while IndiGo warned of continued disruptions in Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam. Meanwhile, Kakinada police rescued four people who spent the night stranded inside a Central Warehousing Corporation godown after water entered the campus.

Context

Coastal Andhra Pradesh frequently faces severe cyclonic storms during the Bay of Bengal storm season, prompting elaborate pre-disaster evacuations and coordination between state machinery and central agencies like the NDRF. Authorities routinely prioritize clearing transport arteries and restoring power grids immediately after landfall subsides to prevent secondary health and supply crises.