Cyclone Arnab made landfall on India's southeastern coast early Wednesday as a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’, lashing coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh with winds of up to 150 km/h and forcing tens of thousands of people from their homes, authorities said.
The storm crossed the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, packing sustained winds of 125-135 km/h. It was later downgraded to a ‘severe’ cyclonic storm after moving inland.
Nearly 100,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha, authorities told Euronews, while Al Jazeera reported that at least 180,000 had been moved. ‘Protecting every life is our foremost priority,’ Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said as the storm approached.
Prakhar Jain, head of the state's disaster management authority, said more than 2,000 cyclone shelters had been set up across 20 districts and emergency alerts sent to millions of mobile phones. Over 30,000 fishing boats were secured and nearly 1,100 medical teams deployed.
The IMD warned of ‘total destruction’ of thatched houses, localised flooding, uprooted power and communications poles, and widespread damage to crops. A storm surge of up to 1.5 metres above tide level was forecast for low-lying areas of Andhra. Trees fell onto highways and power supplies were disrupted. One resident of Kakinada district said, ‘No one knew whose house the water would rush into next or whose home would be submerged.’ No casualties have been reported so far.
More than 12 million people live in the cyclone's expected path, according to the disaster authority. Flights and train services were cancelled and schools closed in affected areas.
In neighbouring Nepal, authorities warned tourists to avoid high-altitude areas from Thursday to Saturday for fear Arnab could trigger torrential rain, snowstorms and avalanches. Trekking permits were suspended for three days during the peak hiking season, when about 750 permits are issued daily. Nepal is still recovering from catastrophic flooding in August that killed more than 1,400 people. Sri Lanka also closed schools and warned of flash floods and landslides.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The cyclone endangers millions of people in one of India's most densely populated coastal regions, with a storm surge and flooding that could cause widespread destruction.
- The impact extends beyond India, with Nepal and Sri Lanka issuing warnings over potential secondary disasters including flash floods, landslides and avalanches.
- Mass evacuations and emergency preparations have been under way for days, reflecting the severity of the storm.
Background
The Bay of Bengal is among the world's most active breeding grounds for tropical cyclones, and India's eastern coast is frequently affected. Cyclone Arnab formed over the bay and intensified over several days before reaching ‘very severe’ strength, the third-highest category on the IMD scale. Nepal, still recovering from a catastrophic glacial flood in August that killed more than 1,400 people, has taken the unusual step of suspending trekking permits in high-altitude areas.
Key Perspectives
Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister: said protecting every life was the foremost priority as the storm approached.
Prakhar Jain, head of Andhra Pradesh state disaster management authority: said the authority set up more than 2,000 shelters across 20 districts, secured 30,000 fishing boats and deployed about 1,100 medical teams.
A Kakinada district resident: described scenes of panic, saying no one knew whose home would be submerged next.
What to Watch
- The storm surge of up to 1.5 metres in low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh could cause the worst damage.
- The impact on Nepal's high-altitude regions, where warnings are in place until Saturday and trekking permits have been suspended.
- Any report of casualties as emergency crews assess the damage across affected areas.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 8 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMass evacuations were under way as Cyclone Arnab made landfall in India.Euronews: “Ferocious winds and torrential rain lashed India's southeastern coast as Cyclone Arnab made landfall on Wednesday, forcing nearly 100,000 people to evacuate their homes in two states, authorities said.”
- Partly supportedThe storm had winds of up to 150 km/h.Euronews: “Arnab hit Andhra Pradesh as a "very severe cyclonic storm", with winds of 125-135 kilometres per hour and gusts reaching 150 kph, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.”
- SupportedAndhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said, “Protecting every life is our foremost priority,” as the storm approached.Euronews: “"Protecting every life is our foremost priority," Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said as the storm approached the coast.”
- SupportedCyclone Arnab made landfall in Andhra Pradesh early Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Trees fell onto highways and power supplies were disrupted after Arnab crossed into Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday morning.”
- Partly supportedNearly 100,000 people had been evacuated from low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, according to authorities cited by Euronews.Euronews: “Ferocious winds and torrential rain lashed India's southeastern coast as Cyclone Arnab made landfall on Wednesday, forcing nearly 100,000 people to evacuate their homes in two states, authorities said.”
- Partly supportedAl Jazeera reported that at least 180,000 people had been moved from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “At least 180,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states a day earlier.”
- SupportedA Kakinada district resident said, “No one knew whose house the water would rush into next or whose home would be submerged.”Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “One resident of Kakinada district in Andhra Pradesh, which lies in the storm’s path, said: “No one knew whose house the water would rush into next or whose home would be submerged.””
- SupportedMore than 12 million people live in the cyclone’s expected path, according to the state disaster management authority.Euronews: “The state’s disaster management authority said more than 12 million people live along the cyclone’s expected path.”
- SupportedNo casualties had been reported so far.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “No casualties have been reported so far.”
- SupportedA storm surge of up to 1.5 metres above tide level was forecast for low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “India’s Meteorological Department forecast a storm surge of up to 1.5m above the tide level, warning that it was likely to submerge low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh.”
- SupportedNepalese authorities warned tourists to avoid high-altitude areas from Thursday to Saturday because Arnab could trigger torrential rain, snowstorms and avalanches.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “In neighbouring Nepal, authorities warned tourists on Tuesday not to enter high-altitude areas over fears Arnab could trigger torrential downpours, snowstorms and avalanches from Thursday through to Saturday.”
- Partly supportedNepal was still recovering from catastrophic flooding in August that killed more than 1,400 people.Al Jazeera – Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera: “Nepal is still recovering from a catastrophic glacial mountain collapse in August , which killed more than 1,400 people and left at least 5,000 missing.”
