Cyclone Arnab weakens into deep depression as heavy rains hit multiple states

UPDATE - follow-up to Cyclone Arnab to weaken into depression on October 29, says IMD | LIVE updates: Cyclone Arnab continues to weaken after crossing the coast between Andhra Pradesh and Yanam over a six-hour period from 2 am to 8 am. The India Meteorological Department reports that the system has turned into a deep depression and is moving northwards at 15 kmph. Officials confirmed that seven people died in Andhra Pradesh due to incidents like falling trees, electrocution, and wall collapses.

Official Response and Relief

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh, promising complete assistance from the Centre. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Mr. Shah asking for a central team to evaluate the losses. Over 1,80,000 residents were moved to safety in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha before the storm arrived. Civic body election candidates in Visakhapatnam paused their campaigns to help with rescue work. Meanwhile, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi stated that safety drills helped the state reach its zero-casualty goal, while 17 southern districts in Odisha faced heavy downpours.

Impact Across States

Flight operations halted at three Andhra Pradesh airports, while Bhubaneswar airport cancelled only a small nine-seater service. In Jharkhand, Gudabanda recorded 71.4 mm of rain, and Ranchi registered 26.2 mm. Telangana experienced thunderstorms across 12 districts, prompting the state's Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka to offer power infrastructure help to Andhra Pradesh. Schools shut down in several Chhattisgarh areas, and West Bengal expects continuous rain until October 31.

Context

Severe cyclonic storms lose power rapidly once they move over land because they lose their main energy source from warm ocean waters. Weather departments track these systems closely using radar networks to issue timely warnings to districts in their path.