Cyclone Arnab crossed into India’s Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday morning, making landfall as a “very severe cyclonic storm,” the third-highest category on the meteorological scale. The system brought sustained wind speeds of up to 135kph along with heavy rainfall, causing trees to fall across highways and disrupting electrical power supplies in affected areas.
Authorities had conducted precautionary evacuation operations a day ahead of landfall, moving at least 180,000 people from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states. Transportation networks were significantly impacted, with authorities canceling both flights and train services, and some educational institutions closed their facilities. Officials noted that more than 12 million people reside within the cyclone’s projected path. As of reporting, no deaths had been recorded, though the storm triggered considerable property damage and displaced communities.
The Indian Meteorological Department warned of a potential storm surge reaching 1.5 meters above normal tide levels, with forecasters cautioning that such surge could inundate low-lying regions. Following inland progression, the system was subsequently downgraded from “very severe” to “severe” classification. The cyclone’s effects extended beyond India’s borders, prompting neighboring Nepal to issue travel advisories on Tuesday warning tourists against entering high-altitude areas between Thursday and Saturday due to concerns about torrential rainfall, snowstorms, and avalanche risk. Nepalese authorities suspended trekking permit issuance for three days, affecting a region that typically processes approximately 750 daily permits during the height of hiking season.
Sri Lanka also implemented precautionary measures, closing schools and warning residents of potential flash flooding and landslide hazards as the system approached.
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