BHUBANESWAR / HYDERABAD, India — A powerful cyclone slammed into India’s eastern coastline on Wednesday morning, bringing ferocious winds, widespread power outages, and extensive structural damage to coastal communities.
Classified by the India Meteorological Department as a very severe cyclonic storm, Cyclone Arnab made landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh before pushing entirely inland. Forecasters expect wind speeds ranging from 125 to 135 km/h, with gusts reaching up to 150 km/h, alongside a dangerous storm surge of up to 1.5 meters threatening low-lying regions.
In anticipation of the tempest, authorities executed massive precautionary measures across the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, safely evacuating over 180,000 residents to emergency shelters.
Infrastructure Hit and Regional Travel Halts
While no fatalities have been reported so far, the storm uprooted trees and utility poles, blocking major highways and severing power lines. Operations across three regional airports in Andhra Pradesh were suspended, while local rail and flight schedules faced severe cancellations. Schools in affected districts remain closed as emergency crews work to clear debris.
Local residents in Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada district reported flooded homes, structural damage to thatched houses, and widespread loss of personal belongings. Fishermen have been strictly instructed to remain ashore due to rough seas.
Cross-Border Impact in Nepal
The Bay of Bengal storm system is also triggering high-altitude warnings in neighboring Nepal during peak trekking season. Nepal’s Department of Immigration suspended issuing high-mountain trekking permits for three days to protect thousands of international hikers from anticipated torrential rain, snowstorms, and potential avalanches in the Himalayas.
While the Bay of Bengal has historically produced some of India’s most devastating natural disasters, advanced early-warning infrastructure and swift mass evacuations have significantly reduced potential casualties in recent years.
