Vijayawada: Cyclone Arnab killed at least five people in Andhra Pradesh after crossing the coast early on Wednesday, flattening crops, damaging houses and cutting power to more than 25 lakh connections before losing strength over land, according to State officials and the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The very severe cyclonic storm crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts near Narsapur in West Godavari district, in the stretch between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam and to the south-west of Yanam. Winds blew at a sustained 125 to 135 kmph, with gusts touching 150 kmph.
The system has since weakened into a severe cyclonic storm. The IMD expects it to lose most of its force soon as it moves north-north-west towards Odisha and further inland.
Naidu announces Rs 5 lakh for families of the dead
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu confirmed the five deaths and announced compensation of Rs 5 lakh for each bereaved family. The victims died of electrocution from snapped power lines, a falling tree and a collapsed wall. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) reports had earlier put the toll at three.
Between about 57,000 and more than 84,000 people were moved to relief camps in Andhra Pradesh, according to different figures cited, and more were evacuated in Odisha. Kakinada, Konaseema, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts took the worst of the storm, with Kakinada among the hardest hit by flooding and strong winds. Police rescued people trapped in floodwater.
Initial estimates show paddy on about 70,900 hectares and horticulture crops on 10,450 hectares submerged or damaged, and around 180 houses affected. Thousands of electric poles and distribution transformers were damaged in north and central Andhra Pradesh, and hundreds of trees were uprooted. Several roads were blocked or damaged. Dozens of flights were cancelled at Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada airports, and a number of trains were cancelled or disrupted.
Naidu has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking central teams to assess the losses, and ordered officials to clear fallen trees and restore power quickly. Affected families are being given rice and essentials, those in camps are receiving cash support, and compensation will be paid for damaged houses and crops.
Cyclone Arnab brings up to 47.3 mm rain to Bhadradri Kothagudem
Telangana escaped the direct hit, but the outer bands of Cyclone Arnab brought light to moderate rain to several eastern and southern districts on October 28, along with a drop in temperature.
According to the Telangana Development Planning Society and IMD-Hyderabad, eight districts received between 2 mm and about 22 mm of rain by early afternoon. Parts of Khammam, Mulugu, Suryapet and Bhadradri Kothagudem recorded 10 to 21.3 mm, while Nalgonda, Mahabubabad, Warangal and Jayashankar Bhupalpally got up to 10 mm.
Between 8.30 am and 7 pm, Aswaraopet mandal in Bhadradri Kothagudem recorded 47.3 mm and Dammapet 32.8 mm, and several other mandals in Kothagudem and Khammam crossed 20 mm. District officials put staff on alert and cancelled leave, and Bhadradri Kothagudem declared a holiday for schools, colleges and Anganwadi centres as a precaution.
Farmers in the erstwhile Khammam district said they feared the rain could damage kharif paddy and cotton that was ready for harvest or on its way to market. Many residents, however, were glad of the showers after a long dry spell and hot days.
The IMD issued an orange alert for heavy to very heavy rain in Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Nalgonda and Suryapet, and a yellow alert for thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds in Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Mulugu, Mahabubabad, Warangal and Hanumakonda. It also warned of a moderate to high risk of flash floods in watersheds in Khammam, Bhadradri Kothagudem and Mulugu.
Temperatures across the State dropped by 0.5°C to 2.5°C in the 24 hours ending Tuesday evening, with Hanumakonda recording the sharpest fall of 2.5°C and Bhadrachalam 2.2°C. Hyderabad stayed mostly cloudy with cool winds and a chance of light, scattered showers, while Rangareddy, Sangareddy and other western districts remained largely dry.
Telangana offers power staff and material to Andhra Pradesh
Deputy Chief Minister and Energy Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka spoke to Andhra Pradesh Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar and said Telangana would send personnel and essential material as needed to help repair the power network. Andhra Pradesh officials thanked Telangana for the offer.
According to the latest IMD updates, the cyclone has completed landfall and is moving inland. Several Andhra Pradesh districts still face a risk of flash floods, and officials have asked people in affected areas to stay indoors, avoid travel and follow advisories. NDRF and State disaster response teams remain deployed.
Heavy rain is still forecast for parts of Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and West Bengal as the system weakens. The full extent of losses to farms and infrastructure is still being assessed.