Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast early on October 28 as a very severe cyclonic storm, killing at least three people and forcing tens of thousands to evacuate before weakening over land.
Cyclone Arnab made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts early on October 28, crossing as a very severe cyclonic storm with winds of 125-135 km/h and gusts to 150 km/h before weakening into a severe cyclonic storm over land.
At least three people were killed in Andhra Pradesh, mainly from falling trees and electrocution, according to National Disaster Response Force officials and the state government. More than 20,000 people were evacuated in advance, and dozens of houses were damaged along with hundreds of trees and power poles.
The India Meteorological Department confirmed the landfall process began around 1:20 a.m. local time and was complete by mid-morning, with the system then moving inland and expected to weaken further into a deep depression. Neighbouring Odisha saw less severe impacts.
NDRF statements, IMD updates and reports from Reuters and the Times of India align on the landfall timing, the weakening, and the minimum death toll of three, with some local counts later rising to five as assessments continued. No official revision has superseded the initial confirmed figures.
The storm's passage disrupts coastal life and agriculture in Andhra Pradesh while highlighting the value of preemptive evacuations that limited the casualty count relative to the storm's intensity. Further weakening is expected over the next 12-24 hours as it tracks northwest.