Amaravati, October 2026 : Cyclone Arnab has claimed three lives and damaged 31 houses in Andhra Pradesh, leaving a trail of destruction across parts of the state, a senior National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officer said on Wednesday.
The cyclone made landfall near Yanam in Puducherry and has weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm. It is expected to weaken further into a cyclonic storm before turning into a deep depression by Wednesday evening, the officer said.
NDRF officer Bundela said north coastal Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha were among the areas affected by the weather system, which brought heavy rainfall and strong winds.
“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,” he said. Preliminary reports indicated no major impact in Odisha, he added.
Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh experienced intense rainfall and strong winds, with maximum wind speeds reaching up to 135 kmph, raising concerns over damage to homes, infrastructure and public utilities.
Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha had intensified preparations ahead of the cyclone's landfall. Nearly 4,000 cyclone shelters were established across the two states, while thousands of people living in vulnerable areas were evacuated to safer locations.
Disaster management teams were placed on standby to respond to emergencies, and traffic restrictions were imposed on several roads as a precautionary measure.
The Andhra Pradesh government established 2,131 cyclone shelters across 20 districts to accommodate people evacuated from vulnerable areas. It also kept 1,087 medical teams on standby and arranged 8,281 emergency beds and 1,274 ambulances, officials said.
Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as the cyclone weakens. Emergency services remain prepared to assist affected communities, assess damage and respond to any further incidents caused by heavy rainfall, strong winds or flooding.
