Cyclone Arnab Hits India: 6 Dead and Widespread Damage Across Andhra Pradesh Coast

At least six people are confirmed dead and massive infrastructure damage spans India’s eastern coast following the passage of Cyclone Arnab, which barreled ashore with sustained winds reaching 130 kilometers per hour. According to reporting from Reuters, state officials confirmed the initial death toll of six, while local authorities cited by The Times of India placed fatalities at nine due to electrocutions and structural collapses. The storm struck early on Wednesday between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast, leaving widespread power outages, flooded agricultural lands, and disrupted transport corridors in its wake.

The system marked a notable meteorological event as the first named storm of the 2026 North Indian Ocean cyclone season, emerging in the Bay of Bengal on October 25. NASA’s Science observations noted this was a relatively late start for a basin that typically produces named cyclones in April or May. Operating under an active El Niño climate pattern—which typically correlates with reduced tropical cyclone activity in the Bay of Bengal—Arnab still intensified. Satellite tracking by the VIIRS instrument on the NOAA-20 satellite captured the storm at 20:12 Universal Time on October 26, showing sustained winds near 140 kilometers per hour before it slightly weakened prior to landfall.

Infrastructure Toll and Recovery Efforts in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha

The human and economic stakes became immediately apparent across affected rural and urban communities. State Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that at least 15,000 electricity poles were damaged by the severe weather. Power restoration efforts moved swiftly in most districts, though Konaseem and West Godavari remained largely without electricity days after the impact.

The Indian Coast Guard helicopter has commenced rescue operations in Ganjam district.@CMO_Odisha @SecyChief @rdmodisha @IPR_Odisha @ndmaindia pic.twitter.com/xbBBtzCBCE

— https://x.com/threadless/status/2115745524607520971

Transportation networks suffered extensive disruptions. Indian Railways announced cancellations and route alterations for multiple services to ensure passenger safety. According to scheduling data from The Indian Express, the Visakhapatnam–Kirandul Night Express was canceled through early November, and the Bhubaneswar–Jagdalpur Hirakhand Express was short-terminated at Rayagada. Meanwhile, maritime operations faced ongoing hazards. A Marshall Island-flagged cargo vessel carrying 20 crew members remained grounded and stalled off the Andhra Pradesh coast due to persisting rough seas.

Regarding pre-landfall preparations, N. Chandrababu Naidu said advances in technology enabled the government to identify the areas likely to face the greatest impact and limit loss of life and property.

Preemptive safety measures proved vital in mitigating higher casualties. More than 180,000 residents across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were evacuated ahead of the cyclone’s arrival.

Weakenings, Inland Rainfall, and Secondary Weather Alerts

As Arnab moved inland, its intensity steadily degraded. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) tracked the system as it weakened into a deep depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha, eventually dropping to a depression. Despite the downgrade, atmospheric moisture associated with the remnants of the cyclone stretched far to the northeast, delivering persistent rainfall.

People walk on a beach following Cyclone Arnab, in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India, October 28, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer — Photo: Reuters

The Regional Meteorological Centre in Alipore issued an orange alert for Kolkata and surrounding districts, where residents experienced gusty winds reaching 30 to 40 kilometers per hour and light to moderate thunderstorms. Rainfall totals in Kolkata surpassed 11 millimeters by Thursday morning. Meteorological bulletins warned of potential lightning strikes and temporary waterlogging in low-lying urban sectors across Howrah, Hooghly, and the 24-Parganas districts as the system transitioned into a well-marked low-pressure area.