Published on 28 October 2026 – 5:23 GMT+1
Severe winds and heavy rainfall struck India’s southeastern coastline as Cyclone Arnab made landfall on Wednesday, prompting the evacuation of nearly 100,000 residents across two states, according to officials.
The storm intensified into a very severe cyclonic system over Andhra Pradesh, with sustained winds of 125–135 km/h and gusts up to 150 km/h, the India Meteorological Department reported.
“Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab is still interacting with the land surface,” the IMD said, noting the system was positioned along the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam.
Authorities ordered mass evacuations inland and into shelters in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, while Sri Lanka and Nepal also issued advisories for the approaching system.
“Protecting every life is our foremost priority,” said Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu as the storm neared the coast.
Approximately 50,000 people were relocated to safe zones in Andhra Pradesh, with an additional 48,000 evacuated in Odisha.
India’s meteorological service warned of potential total loss of thatched structures, localized flooding, widespread damage to power and communication infrastructure, and extensive harm to standing crops.
The state’s disaster management authority reported that more than 12 million individuals reside along the cyclone’s projected path.
Over 2,000 cyclone shelters were established across 20 districts, and emergency alerts were distributed to millions of mobile devices, said Prakhar Jain, head of the Andhra Pradesh disaster management agency.
In addition, more than 30,000 fishing vessels were secured along the coast, and nearly 1,100 medical teams were positioned across the affected zones to provide emergency care, he added.
