Narsapur:Andhra Pradesh Cyclone Arnab completed its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday, causing heavy rainfall in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The landfall process lasted over six hours, disrupting normal life in the affected regions.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that the very severe cyclonic storm had moved completely over land along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts by 950 am. The cyclone was located around 20 km east of Narsapur, 40 km south-southwest of Yanam, 60 km south-southwest of Kakinada, and 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam at the time of the bulletin.
Cyclone Arnab crossed the coast with maximum sustained wind speeds of 125-135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph, before weakening into a severe cyclonic storm at 830 am. The cyclone prompted authorities to evacuate more than 180,000 people in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as a precautionary measure.
In Andhra Pradesh, Visakhapatnam recorded the highest rainfall with 315 mm, followed by Vizianagaram with 301 mm, Anakapalli with 275 mm, Srikakulam with 257 mm, and Krishna with 223 mm. Odisha's Koraput received 188 mm of rainfall, while Ganjam and Gajapati recorded 161 mm and 135 mm, respectively.
Due to the adverse weather conditions, airlines canceled flights to Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada on Wednesday. Although no casualties were reported, the cyclone caused electricity disruptions, uprooted trees, closed schools, and led to the cancellation of several train services.
Officials forecast continued heavy rainfall in the affected areas on Wednesday and Thursday as the cyclone's impact persisted. The name "Arnab" was proposed by Bangladesh and is part of an official list adopted by the World Meteorological Organisation and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Panel on Tropical Cyclones. The name is associated with the Bengali word for the ocean or sea, highlighting the importance of naming cyclones to improve public awareness and reduce confusion.