Cyclone Arnab struck India’s eastern coast on Thursday, causing extensive damage and claiming at least five lives across Andhra Pradesh and the union territory of Yanam. The storm, classified as a “very severe” cyclonic storm by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), brought winds reaching up to 150 kilometers per hour and heavy rainfall, leading to widespread flooding and infrastructural damage.
The cyclone made landfall early Thursday and remained over the coast for more than six hours before moving inland, weakening to a severe cyclonic storm by 8:30 a.m. Despite its weakening, authorities cautioned that heavy rains and strong winds would persist, posing ongoing risks to affected areas.
The fatalities occurred in multiple districts, including Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle, Kakinada, Konaseema, and West Godavari. Some deaths were reportedly due to electrocution, while others were caused by falling trees amid the storm.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reported that 14 coastal districts suffered significant damage. The cyclone severely impacted homes, roads, power infrastructure, and agricultural lands. Konaseema, known for its fertile terrain, was among the hardest-hit areas, with extensive losses reported in banana and coconut plantations. Fallen trees and downed electricity poles obstructed transportation routes and disrupted power supply in many locations.
Preliminary assessments indicated that more than 70,000 hectares of agricultural crops were submerged, while horticultural crops over an additional 10,500 hectares were damaged. Rainfall measurements reinforced the severity of the storm, with Visakhapatnam recording 315 millimeters, followed by Vizianagaram (301 mm), Anakapalle (275 mm), Srikakulam (257 mm), and Krishna district (223 mm). Neighboring Odisha also experienced substantial precipitation, including 188 millimeters in Koraput and 161 millimeters in Ganjam.
In response to the cyclone’s impact, flights to Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada were cancelled, and several train services in the region were suspended as a precautionary measure.
Chief Minister Naidu engaged with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, requesting immediate financial aid and the deployment of central government teams to facilitate damage assessment and relief efforts. In a post on his social media account X, Naidu highlighted the extensive destruction of agricultural and horticultural resources, power infrastructure, roads, and other public assets, underscoring the urgency of coordinated assistance to support recovery efforts.