Cyclone Arnab makes landfall; heavy rains lash Andhra Pradesh, Odisha

Cyclone Arnab made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on Wednesday morning, triggering heavy rainfall across the region. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the landfall process began between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam and was expected to continue for another two to three hours.

Neighbouring Odisha also experienced heavy rainfall in several areas early Wednesday.

The IMD said the very severe cyclonic storm maintained a core intensity of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph. The system moved northwestwards at a speed of 3 kmph over the preceding three hours. It is expected to continue moving slowly northwestwards initially before turning north-northwestwards.

“The cyclone remains practically stationary along the Andhra Pradesh coast, and the landfall process is expected to continue for another 2–3 hours,” the IMD said in an update issued at 5.30 am.

The very severe cyclonic storm was located over the west central Bay of Bengal close to the Andhra Pradesh coast, near latitude 16.4 degrees north and longitude 82.0 degrees east, about 30 km east of Narsapur, 45 km south-southwest of Yanam, 70 km south-southwest of Kakinada and 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam.

Heavy rainfall battered several areas of Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Konaseema districts. Uprooted trees and electric poles disrupted traffic, while several low-lying areas were inundated.

Kannuripalem in Anakapalli district recorded the highest rainfall at 261.5 mm, followed by KVBR School in Vizianagaram district at 259.74 mm and the 16th Police Battalion area in Visakhapatnam at 259.06 mm.

State government officials said heavy rainfall is likely to continue on Wednesday and Thursday under the influence of the cyclone.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation through a teleconference on Wednesday morning and directed officials to clear uprooted trees promptly. He also instructed them to take steps to restore power supply once the cyclone’s intensity subsided.

At least 609 schools across the state have been converted into rehabilitation centres to accommodate people affected by the storm.

In Odisha, the IMD issued weather warnings forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, Nabarangpur and Malkangiri districts.