Cyclone Arnab: Andhra Pradesh records 135 kph winds after landfall

Cyclone Arnab crossed the coastline of India's Andhra Pradesh state in the early hours of Wednesday. State disaster management officials confirmed that the storm had made landfall, marking the end of the immediate threat from the system's strongest winds.

Prakhar Jain, the head of the state's disaster management authority, noted that the cyclone had weakened slightly before reaching the shore. Despite this reduction in intensity, the system delivered heavy to very heavy rainfall to several coastal districts. This weather pattern caused widespread disruption in the affected regions.

Late Wednesday morning, officials recorded wind speeds of up to 135 kph (84 mph). The India Meteorological Department announced that the cyclone had downgraded to a severe cyclonic storm. They expect wind speeds to ease further as the system moves inland and weakens throughout the day.

Prior to the landfall, authorities placed all coastal districts on high alert on Tuesday. They initiated evacuations from low-lying and flood-prone zones. An official statement confirmed that at least 89,000 people had been evacuated in Andhra Pradesh by the time the storm arrived. Neighboring Odisha planned to evacuate approximately 48,000 residents from areas likely to be impacted.

The state's disaster management authority reported that more than 12 million people live along the cyclone's expected path. To accommodate those displaced, officials established over 2,000 cyclone shelters across 20 districts. Jain stated that emergency alerts were sent to the mobile phones of millions of residents to ensure timely communication.

Preparatory measures included securing more than 30,000 fishing boats along the coast. Nearly 1,100 medical teams were deployed across the affected areas to provide emergency assistance. Authorities also canceled some train services on Tuesday as gusty winds and rain began lashing the coast earlier than anticipated.

There were no immediate reports of casualties, though some damage was observed in the coastal areas. The India Meteorological Department indicated that heavy rainfall and strong winds would continue to affect coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of southern Odisha under the storm's influence.