A "very severe" cyclonic storm, named Arnab, made landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The storm crossed between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph and gusts reaching up to 150 kmph. This severe weather event triggered extensive preparations and disruptions across the region.
Widespread Evacuations and Emergency Response
Authorities in Andhra Pradesh prioritized saving lives, moving more than 84,000 people to designated shelters in affected districts. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu emphasized the government's commitment to zero casualties. A total of 2,199 cyclone shelters were activated, equipped with generators, medicines, and round-the-clock control rooms. Evacuation plans specifically focused on vulnerable groups including the elderly, children, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women, with 2,360 pregnant women already shifted to medical facilities.
Flight Cancellations and Travel Disruptions
The severe weather conditions led to significant disruptions in air travel. Several airlines announced cancellations affecting routes in and out of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha:
- Air India: Cancelled six Delhi-Visakhapatnam flights on October 27 and services on the Delhi-Vijayawada-Delhi sector for October 28.
- Air India Express: Reported 13 cancellations, primarily connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vijayawada, alongside Varanasi-Bangkok and Bangkok-Visakhapatnam flights.
- IndiGo: Suspended flight operations at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, and Rajahmundry after 7 pm on October 27.
- Akasa Air: Cancelled Delhi-Bhogapuram and return services for October 28.
Residents were advised to cancel road and rail travel plans, remain indoors, and avoid coastal areas. Power outages were anticipated in heavily impacted regions, with 8,400 personnel on standby to address disruptions to the estimated 15,000 electricity poles that could be affected.
Storm's Path and Expected Impact
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone Arnab's center remained very close to the coastline during landfall, with its northern spiral band moving further inland. Heavy rain and strong winds lashed districts such as Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, and Konaseema, causing trees to be uprooted in several locations. Chief Minister Naidu warned that powerful gales would extend up to Krishna district, while areas from West Godavari to Srikakulam were expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall, with Srikakulam potentially seeing 30 cm of rain.
Estimates suggest that agricultural crops across 7.16 lakh hectares and horticultural crops across 16 lakh hectares could be affected. The government is also monitoring river levels, particularly Nagavali and Vamsadhara, and has arranged drones for delivering aid to marooned villages. Schools declared holidays on Tuesday and Wednesday in anticipation of the storm.