Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh — Cyclone Arnab has significantly impacted Andhra Pradesh, resulting in three fatalities and damage to 31 homes as heavy rainfall and strong winds continue across parts of the state. Authorities have moved approximately 57,000 residents to relief camps in anticipation of further adverse weather.
The cyclonic storm made landfall near Yanam, Puducherry, and has since weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm. It is projected to further de-intensify into a cyclonic storm and then a deep depression by Wednesday evening.
Impact and Casualties
Andhra Pradesh has borne the brunt of Cyclone Arnab's fury, with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) confirming the casualties and property damage. "Andhra Pradesh has been the most affected... we have been informed that trees have been uprooted, 31 houses of various types have been damaged and three persons have been killed," stated NDRF Inspector General Narendra Singh Bundela during a press briefing in New Delhi.
While northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha experienced the most severe effects, preliminary reports suggest Odisha sustained less serious damage compared to its southern neighbor.
Evacuations and Relief Efforts
In a massive precautionary measure, around 57,000 people were relocated to designated relief camps across Andhra Pradesh. Additionally, 38 individuals were evacuated from Yanam on Tuesday night as the storm approached. The NDRF has deployed a total of 39 teams to manage the disaster and provide rescue services across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Puducherry, Telangana, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Four additional NDRF teams were dispatched to Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night to bolster response efforts.
With the cyclone gradually weakening, the primary focus for disaster response and rescue teams from both central and state governments is now on mitigating the ongoing impact of continuous rainfall across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and surrounding regions.