NEW DELHI, India / AsiaWire.IO / – Cyclone Arnab made landfall in India’s Andhra Pradesh state early on Wednesday after authorities evacuated tens of thousands of people from the eastern coast. The India Meteorological Department classified Arnab as a very severe cyclonic storm, the third-highest category on its scale. Ahead of landfall, authorities ordered about 50,000 people in Andhra Pradesh and another 48,000 in Odisha to leave their homes, Indian media reported. Nepal and Sri Lanka also issued weather warnings.
At least three people were killed, Reuters reported, citing officials. Narendra Singh Bundela of the National Disaster Response Force said Andhra Pradesh was the most affected state, while Odisha was not as badly hit. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said in a letter to Home Minister Amit Shah that the storm destroyed at least 180 houses and brought down 220 trees. Power supply was disrupted in several areas.
More than 180,000 people had been evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha by the time the storm came ashore, Reuters reported. The weather department had forecast gusts of up to 150 kilometres per hour. Heavy rain lashed the coastal city of Kakinada on Tuesday, while high waves battered beaches. Operations at three airports in Andhra Pradesh were suspended, and some train and flight services were cancelled.
Relief camps and rescue teams on standby
In Andhra Pradesh, nearly 89,000 people were moved from six coastal belts to 101 relief camps before landfall. All 130 residents of Hope Island were evacuated to Kakinada city. The state government released Rs 27 crore to 20 districts for relief operations. Fifteen teams from the National Disaster Response Force were deployed, and the Navy and Coast Guard were placed on alert in Visakhapatnam.
Fishermen were advised not to go to sea, and schools in coastal districts were closed. At least 53 trains were cancelled on October 27 and 28. The federal government also placed Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry on alert. Officials said wind speeds were expected to fall as the cyclone moved further inland.
Nepal and Sri Lanka issue warnings
In Sri Lanka, schools were closed ahead of expected heavy rainfall, amid warnings of flooding and landslides. The island was hit hard by Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025. Nepal’s disaster management authority warned that the storm was likely to move inland towards the Himalayas overnight from Thursday to Friday. It said the system could bring heavy rain and a risk of heavy snowfall, blizzards and avalanches.
Nepalese authorities advised tourists to avoid high-altitude areas and urged those already there to remain in safe locations. Nepal also suspended the issuing of trekking permits to high mountain areas for three days, an immigration official told Reuters. About 750 hikers usually receive permits each day. The country is still recovering from deadly floods earlier this year.