NEW DELHI, India / AsiaWire.IO / – At least three people were killed after Cyclone Arnab struck India’s eastern coast, making landfall in Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday, Reuters reported. More than 180,000 people had been evacuated across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as the very severe cyclonic storm approached. Earlier, authorities ordered around 50,000 residents in Andhra Pradesh and 48,000 in Odisha to leave their homes, according to Indian media. Nepal and Sri Lanka issued weather warnings ahead of the storm.
The India Meteorological Department had forecast that Arnab would come ashore with winds of up to 150 kilometres per hour. Andhra Pradesh was the worst-hit state, said Narendra Singh Bundela, a senior official at the National Disaster Response Force. Two of the deaths were caused by a falling tree and electrocution, officials in the Chief Minister’s office said. Odisha was not as badly affected, according to the NDRF.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu wrote to federal Home Minister Amit Shah describing the damage. He said heavy rain and strong winds destroyed at least 180 houses, uprooted 220 trees and disrupted power supply in several areas. Crops were also damaged. The civil aviation ministry suspended operations at three airports in Andhra Pradesh.
Kakinada braces for high waves
Heavy rain lashed the coastal city of Kakinada on Tuesday, while high waves battered beaches along the coast. Cargo operations at Kakinada’s ports were suspended before landfall. Authorities moved nearly 89,000 people in Andhra Pradesh to 101 relief camps, where food and drinking water were provided. All 130 residents of Hope Island were moved to Kakinada city. Odisha also evacuated people from vulnerable coastal areas.
The Andhra Pradesh government released Rs 27 crore to 20 districts for relief work. Fifteen National Disaster Response Force teams were deployed across the state, and the energy department stocked 25,000 electric poles for repairs. The Navy and Coast Guard were placed on alert in Visakhapatnam. At least 53 trains were cancelled on October 27 and 28. Fishing was banned along the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.
Himalayan avalanche risk in Nepal
Nepal’s disaster management authority warned that the storm was likely to move inland towards the Himalayas overnight from Thursday to Friday. It warned of heavy rain and the risk of heavy snowfall, blizzards and avalanches. Tourists were advised to avoid high-altitude areas, and those already there were urged to stay in safe locations. Nepal also suspended trekking permits for high mountain areas for three days, an immigration official told Reuters. About 750 hikers usually receive permits each day.
In Sri Lanka, schools were closed ahead of expected heavy rainfall, amid warnings of flooding and landslides. The island was struck by Cyclone Ditwah in November 2025. Nepal suffered deadly floods earlier this year, raising concern over fresh extreme weather in the region. Authorities said wind speeds would ease as Arnab moved further inland.