Visakhapatnam, Oct 28: Cyclone Arnab weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm after crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapur on Wednesday, but forecasts of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall prompted authorities to maintain alerts across coastal and adjoining districts. Officials reported no loss of life, although the storm damaged crops and civic infrastructure.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts southwest of Yanam between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m., with the landfall process completed by Wednesday morning. At the time of crossing, it carried maximum sustained winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph.
The storm’s centre was about 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km southwest of Yanam and 60 km southwest of Kakinada, according to the IMD’s observations at 8.30 a.m. It was also located 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam, 120 km east of Gannavaram and 120 km southwest of Tuni.
The IMD forecast that the system would move north-northwestwards over the following 48 hours and gradually weaken, first into a cyclonic storm and subsequently into a deep depression.
Prakhar Jain, Managing Director of the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), urged residents to remain alert despite the cyclone’s landfall, warning that heavy rainfall remained a concern.
The storm brought heavy rain and gusty winds to coastal districts, inundating low-lying areas and uprooting trees and electricity poles at several locations. Authorities reported damage to crops and civic infrastructure, although they said no fatalities had been recorded.
The IMD issued a red alert for extremely heavy rainfall in Anakapalli, Alluri Sitharama Raju, Kakinada, Konaseema, East Godavari and West Godavari districts. Very heavy rainfall was forecast in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Eluru, Krishna and NTR districts.
Guntur, Bapatla and SPSR Nellore districts were likely to receive heavy rainfall. Authorities declared a holiday for educational institutions in 15 districts placed on high alert.
The continuing rainfall threat means residents must remain cautious even after the cyclone’s centre has moved inland, as the weather system continues to weaken and move northwestwards.
