Cyclone Arnab has crossed the coast of Andhra Pradesh, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting that the landfall process is nearing completion. Initially classified as a "very severe cyclonic storm" with wind speeds reaching up to 150 kph, the system has begun to weaken into a severe cyclonic storm as it interacts with the land surface.
Massive Evacuation and Emergency Response
The storm prompted a major emergency operation across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, with nearly 100,000 people evacuated from vulnerable coastal areas. Authorities have established over 2,000 relief shelters, including the conversion of 609 schools in Andhra Pradesh to house displaced residents. To manage the crisis, officials deployed more than 1,100 medical teams and secured over 30,000 fishing boats.
The cyclone’s impact has been widespread, causing significant damage to standing crops and infrastructure, including downed trees and communications poles. While the immediate focus remains on the coastal regions, the IMD has issued weather warnings extending to neighboring regions, with rain expected in areas as far as Delhi-NCR through November 1.
Emergency alerts continue to be broadcast to millions of residents as disaster management teams work to mitigate the impact of the storm’s path. Officials have prioritized life-saving measures, with local authorities monitoring the situation closely as the system moves inland.
