Cyclone Arnab Hits Andhra Coast: Heavy Rain, Strong Winds Cause Widespread Disruption

Visakhapatnam: Cyclone Arnab officially completed its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coastline on Wednesday morning, bringing intense rainfall and strong winds to the region.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the core of the storm crossed the coast near Narsapur between 2 AM and 8 AM.

While the system has now weakened from a “very severe” to a “severe” cyclonic storm, authorities warn that the danger from heavy flooding is far from over.

The six-hour landfall process brought sustained wind speeds of 125 to 135 kmph, with powerful gusts reaching up to 150 kmph.

The storm dumped massive amounts of water across the coastal districts.

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Kannuripalem in Anakapalli district recorded the highest rainfall at 261.5 mm, while Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram both crossed the 200 mm mark within a few hours.

Despite the severe weather, local officials have reported zero casualties so far. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that the proactive evacuation of more than 180,000 residents from low-lying areas saved lives.

However, infrastructure across the state has taken a significant hit. Visakhapatnam and surrounding areas have suffered major power grid failures, leaving many pockets without electricity for over 24 hours. Uprooted trees and fallen electric poles have also blocked major roadways.

Travel across the region is severely disrupted. The South Coast Railway has cancelled more than 70 trains to ensure passenger safety.

Additionally, flight operations remain completely suspended at both the Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada airports until weather conditions improve.

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The IMD projects that the storm will move north-northwestward over the next 48 hours. While wind speeds are expected to drop gradually, heavy to extremely heavy rainfall alerts remain active through Thursday for coastal Andhra Pradesh, southern Odisha, and parts of Jharkhand.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are currently on the ground working to clear debris and restore electricity.