Three killed, thousands evacuated as Cyclone Arnab hits eastern India

A tropical cyclone is a large, rotating weather system that develops over warm ocean water. It draws energy from the ocean and can produce powerful winds, heavy rain, flooding and storm surges. These hazards can affect coastal communities, transport, homes, crops and power supplies.

India’s weather department classified Arnab as a “very severe cyclonic storm.” In the article, this means Arnab ranked third-highest on the India Meteorological Department’s cyclone scale. The storm made landfall in Andhra Pradesh early Wednesday before moving fully inland.

The classification signaled a serious threat, helping authorities prepare before landfall. Forecast winds reached 125 to 135 kph, with gusts up to 150 kph. More than 180,000 people were evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, while officials warned of storm surge, heavy rain and damage to vulnerable structures.

More than 180,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha before Cyclone Arnab arrived. This was a major emergency operation because the storm threatened populated coastal areas with powerful winds, heavy rain and flooding. Evacuation moved people away from homes and other exposed places before conditions worsened.

The India Meteorological Department forecast sustained winds of 125 to 135 kph. Gusts could reach 150 kph. It also expected a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the normal tide. That surge could push seawater into low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh, especially when combined with heavy rainfall.

The storm’s strength disrupted daily life across the coast. Schools closed, some trains and flights were cancelled, and operations at three Andhra Pradesh airports were suspended. As Arnab moved inland, officials expected wind speeds to decrease, although neighbouring states could still receive heavy rain.

Cyclone Arnab caused its worst reported damage in Andhra Pradesh. At least three people died, dozens of houses were damaged, and crops were destroyed. Two deaths resulted from a falling tree and electrocution, according to officials in the chief minister’s office. Odisha was affected, but authorities said it was not as badly hit.

Heavy rain and strong winds destroyed at least 180 houses and brought down 220 trees in Andhra Pradesh. Fallen trees blocked highways, while damaged power supplies disrupted several areas. Residents also reported that floodwater entered homes and destroyed belongings, including books. The weather department anticipated further losses to crops and damage to thatched houses and communication lines.

The storm also interrupted movement and public services. Some schools closed, and train and flight services were cancelled along the eastern coast. Operations at three Andhra Pradesh airports were suspended. Emergency teams worked to clear roads and support affected communities as the cyclone moved inland and weakened.

Low-lying coastal areas are especially vulnerable because they sit close to sea level. A storm surge raises seawater above the normal tide and can push it inland. Heavy rain adds more water from above. Together, seawater and rainfall can overwhelm drainage, submerge homes and cut roads, power lines and communication links.

The article forecast a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above normal tide in Andhra Pradesh. It warned that this could inundate low-lying areas. Residents in Kakinada district described uncertainty about whose home would be flooded next. The same storm also damaged houses, destroyed crops and disrupted electricity.

These risks make early evacuation especially important for coastal communities. People may be unable to leave once roads flood or trees fall. Arnab’s impact showed how wind damage and rising water can combine. Even after landfall, heavy rain could affect neighbouring states as the cyclone moved inland.

Early warnings gave authorities time to act before Arnab reached the coast. More than 180,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Moving residents away from threatened homes and low-lying areas reduced their exposure to destructive winds, flooding and falling trees.

Other precautions limited risks during the storm. Some schools closed, while train and flight services were cancelled. Fishermen were advised not to go to sea. Several National Disaster Response Force and state teams worked in affected areas, and workers cleared branches and leaves from highways. These steps helped protect people and maintain access for rescue and relief.

The measures likely helped limit deaths despite severe conditions, though the article does not provide a comparison with what might have happened without them. India has developed early-warning systems and preventive measures over the years. Arnab still killed three people, but authorities were able to evacuate communities before landfall and coordinate emergency operations.

A cyclone’s influence can extend far inland after it leaves the coast. Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal and was expected to bring weather effects into the Himalayan region. Rain and moisture moving toward high mountains can produce dangerous snow and blizzard conditions, especially for people trekking at altitude.

Nepal suspended trekking permits to high mountain areas for three days. Officials warned tourists against entering high-altitude areas because Arnab could trigger torrential downpours, snowstorms and avalanches. The suspension affected a busy trekking period, when around 750 hikers received permits each day.

The warnings covered conditions expected from Thursday night through Saturday. They show that cyclone hazards are not limited to the landfall zone or immediate coastline. Even as Arnab moved inland and winds weakened, heavy rain could affect neighbouring states and mountain regions, creating risks different from those on India’s coast.

Tropical cyclones generally form over warm ocean water. Heat from the sea causes moist air to rise. As that air rises and cools, water vapour condenses and releases heat, which powers more rising air. Air then flows inward toward the lower-pressure centre, creating a rotating storm. Earth’s rotation helps organize the circulation.

The Bay of Bengal supplied the setting for Arnab’s development. The article identifies it as a major region for tropical cyclones and says Arnab formed there before striking India’s eastern coast. As the system strengthened, India’s weather department classified it as a very severe cyclonic storm.

Warm water can help a cyclone intensify, but the article does not give Arnab’s ocean temperatures or every atmospheric condition involved. Its forecast showed the resulting danger: winds of 125 to 135 kph, gusts up to 150 kph and a possible 1-to-1.5-metre storm surge. After landfall, the cyclone moved inland and winds were expected to reduce.