Cyclone Arnab makes landfall in India's Andhra Pradesh, tens of thousands evacuated

Severe Cyclone Arnab struck India's eastern coast near Narsapur, Andhra Pradesh, early on October 28, 2026, packing wind gusts up to 150 kmph and heavy sea surges. Authorities moved over 100,000 residents to shelters across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The storm caused extensive infrastructure destruction, collapsing power poles and flooding low-lying areas, while disrupting transit by cancelling over 60 train services and multiple regional flights.

Landfall and storm intensity

• ▪The India Meteorological Department reported wind speeds of 125 to 135 kmph in Kakinada, Konaseema, and West Godavari districts during the morning of October 28, 2026
• ▪Cyclone Arnab generated sustained winds of 125 to 135 kmph with gusts reaching 150 kmph in coastal Andhra Pradesh, according to the India Meteorological Department
• ▪Severe cyclone Arnab began its landfall process along the Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapur in West Godavari district at around 1:30 a.m
• ▪The India Meteorological Department classified cyclone Arnab as a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm as its eye moved across coastal Andhra Pradesh between Kakinada and Yanam

Infrastructure damage and coastal flooding

• ▪Rising seawater from Cyclone Arnab inundated a ground-floor rehabilitation centre in Yanam and reached the compound wall of an ONGC plant in Allavaram
• ▪Cyclone Arnab brought down hundreds of electricity poles and mobile communication towers across Kakinada and Konaseema districts, causing widespread power outages and signal failures
• ▪At Kothapatnam near Uppada, wave action from Cyclone Arnab damaged a boulder protective wall and scattered large stones across the Uppada–Kakinada Beach Road
• ▪Storm surges generated by Cyclone Arnab raised coastal sea waves to heights between 1.5 meters and 8 meters near Kakinada and Yanam, breaching coastal roads

Heavy rainfall in coastal districts

• ▪Twelve weather stations across Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts recorded extremely heavy rainfall exceeding 200 mm between October 27 and October 28, 2026
• ▪At Kannuripalem in Anakapalli district, heavy rainfall reached 231.5 mm between October 27 and October 28, 2026, while Visakhapatnam recorded 200.2 mm by midnight on Tuesday, October 27

Transport cancellations and travel restrictions

• ▪Rail operators cancelled at least 61 to 63 train services and rescheduled 15 others across coastal routes in response to Cyclone Arnab
• ▪The Ministry of Civil Aviation and regional operators cancelled or diverted several flights serving airports in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha due to severe weather from Cyclone Arnab
• ▪The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation cancelled 160 bus services in Visakhapatnam district and authorities imposed restrictions on night travel on October 27, 2026

Evacuations of coastal residents

• ▪Authorities ordered the evacuation of approximately 50,000 residents in Andhra Pradesh and 48,000 residents in Odisha to government relief centres ahead of Cyclone Arnab
• ▪Authorities in West Godavari district shifted approximately 3,000 residents from coastal villages including Chinna Lanka, PM Lanka, East Thallu, and Vemuladeevi to rehabilitation shelters

Nepal weather advisories

• ▪Nepal's disaster authority urged tourists to avoid traveling to high mountain areas and advised those already present to remain in safe locations
• ▪Nepal's disaster authority issued warnings for heavy rainfall, snowstorms, and high avalanche risks in high mountain regions as Cyclone Arnab tracked inland toward the Himalayas