Severe Cyclone Arnab has claimed five lives and caused widespread damage to crops and public infrastructure after crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced an ex-gratia payment of ₹5 lakh to the family of each deceased person.
Speaking after reviewing the situation at the Real Time Governance System centre at the state secretariat, Naidu said three people died in Visakhapatnam district due to falling trees and electric poles, while one death each was reported in Anakapalli and Bhimavaram.
15,000 Electricity Poles Uprooted
Preliminary estimates indicate that around 15,000 electricity poles were uprooted across Andhra Pradesh. The cyclone affected approximately 3.45 lakh farmers, with standing crops inundated or damaged across 2,24,489 hectares in 14 districts.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast between 2 am and 8 am as a very severe cyclonic storm. It brought maximum sustained winds of 125–135 kmph before weakening into a severe cyclonic storm around 8.30 am, with wind speeds dropping to 110–120 kmph.
The system was expected to move north-northwestwards before gradually weakening into a cyclonic storm and then a deep depression. It was forecast to move towards Chhattisgarh after crossing parts of southern Odisha.
Crop Losses and Infrastructure Damage
Naidu informed Union Home Minister Amit Shah about the extensive damage caused by the cyclone and associated rainfall. Preliminary assessments indicated damage to agricultural and horticultural crops, including paddy, across approximately 70,900 hectares. Crops across about 10,450 hectares were reported inundated or damaged.
The state government announced financial assistance for farmers based on crop type and the extent of losses. The announced assistance includes ₹25,000 per hectare for cotton and sugarcane, ₹15,000 per hectare for banana plantations, and ₹25,000 for tomato crops. Farmers cultivating other crops will receive assistance according to the applicable relief categories.
Around 180 houses were reported damaged, mostly in Konaseema district. More than 220 trees fell across state roads, with over 170 cleared by Wednesday afternoon. Road infrastructure in coastal areas also sustained damage, while four wards in Visakhapatnam experienced inundation.
Naidu emphasised that the figures were provisional and could change as assessment teams completed field surveys. The state government will submit a detailed damage assessment to the Centre following verification. He also sought continued support from the National Disaster Response Force and other central agencies, urging the early deployment of a central team to assess the losses.
The cyclone’s impact was particularly severe along the Godavari delta coast, including Konaseema, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Anakapalli districts. Fire and emergency services personnel responded to more than 220 calls, primarily involving the removal of fallen trees.
The state deployed 16 National Disaster Response Force teams and 11 State Disaster Response Force teams across 14 districts to support rescue, relief and restoration operations.
More Than 28,000 People Relocated to Relief Shelters
Authorities relocated over 28,000 people to relief shelters as a precautionary measure. All fishing boats were brought back to harbour, while medical teams, ambulances, relief supplies, electricity restoration crews and road-clearance teams were positioned in affected districts.
District collectors led response operations, with priority given to displaced families and residents whose homes were damaged. Relief teams were instructed to remain deployed until the threat from heavy rainfall and storm surges had passed.
Naidu thanked the Centre for its support and said the administration would continue monitoring rainfall and potential flooding.
Odisha Steps Up Evacuations and Emergency Preparedness
The cyclone’s impact also prompted precautionary measures in Odisha, where authorities evacuated more than 30,000 people and placed districts in the southern part of the state on high alert.
State Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said evacuations from low-lying and landslide-prone areas were continuing, warning that the following 24 hours would be critical. Authorities deployed 313 response teams, comprising 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams, nine National Disaster Response Force teams and 244 fire and emergency services teams.
All 19,143 fishing boats had returned to shore. Preventive measures, including temporary road closures, were implemented in vulnerable areas susceptible to landslides.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said officials were closely monitoring conditions to maintain safe train operations. Minor disruptions caused by fallen trees at 10 locations were promptly addressed, he said.
Bhubaneswar airport director Prasanna Pradhan reported that flight operations remained largely normal, although one flight was cancelled. Flights travelling from Chennai and Hyderabad to Bhubaneswar were using an alternative route over Raipur to avoid the affected Visakhapatnam airspace.
IMD Issues Red Alert for Heavy Rainfall
Mahendragarh in Gajapati district recorded Odisha’s highest reported rainfall at 249.9 mm. Pottangi in Koraput recorded 188 mm, followed by Mohana in Gajapati at 168.8 mm and Similiguda in Koraput at 143.1 mm.
The IMD issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Gajapati and Ganjam districts, forecasting winds of 50–70 kmph.
Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Rajesh P Patil reported uprooted trees in some southern districts but said there were no reports of major damage or casualties at the time of the assessment.
Authorities in both states continued relief, restoration and damage-assessment operations as they prepared for further rainfall and possible flooding.
