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Cyclone Arnab live updates: landfall near Yanam, rain alerts and damage

Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on 28 October. Timed updates on wind speeds, rainfall, evacuations, train and flight cancellations, and IMD alerts.

Updated 9 updatesStarted 26 Oct, 5:30 am IST

Key points

  • Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast as a very severe cyclonic storm near Yanam, between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, from about 1:20 am on 28 October.
  • Winds at landfall were 115–125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h, according to IMD — down from 150–160 km/h at its peak on 27 October.
  • More than 84,000 people were moved to relief shelters in Andhra Pradesh and about 48,000 in Odisha.
  • Schools were shut in parts of Andhra Pradesh and in 16 of Odisha's 30 districts; dozens of trains and at least 21 flights were cancelled.
  • IMD expected Arnab to weaken to a depression by Thursday, 29 October, but very heavy rain and flash flood risk remained over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Stay safe: follow your district administration and IMD alerts. Emergency helpline: 112. Read our cyclone safety checklist.

Latest updates

  1. Landfall nearly complete; flash flood warning for six districts

    IMD's 8:30 am bulletin said landfall was likely to be completed within the next hour, with winds of 115–125 km/h gusting to 140 km/h expected to ease over the following two hours. IMD had warned of a storm surge of 1.5–2.5 metres above the astronomical tide, highest near Kakinada and Yanam.

    A moderate to high flash flood threat was flagged for the next six hours in Anakapalli, Kakinada, Krishna, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Alluri Sitharama Raju districts.

    About 6,000 electricity poles were reported uprooted in Konaseema district alone, with houses damaged in Mummidivaram and Yanam.

    Source: The Pioneer — live coverage

  2. Arnab nearly stationary near Yanam, winds ease slightly

    At 6:30 am, IMD placed the very severe cyclonic storm about 45 km south-southwest of Yanam and 30 km east of Narsapur, almost stationary. Winds were revised down to 115–125 km/h, gusting to 140 km/h, from 125–135 km/h gusting to 150 km/h overnight.

    Because the storm was moving so slowly, forecasters warned it could keep drawing moisture from the sea and bring extremely heavy rain. IMD estimated sea water could push up to 0.48 km inland at Yanam and 0.24 km at Kakinada.

    Source: Down To Earth

  3. Chief minister reviews response; no further deaths reported

    Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the response with about 32,000 officials. Officials said no further loss of life had been reported overnight. Fallen trees on roads, including national highways, were to be cleared within two hours.

    12 NDRF and 10 SDRF teams were deployed. The state said two months of essential supplies had been stocked at 14,686 ration shops and ₹27 crore released for relief.

    Source: The Pioneer

  4. Landfall begins near Yanam

    Arnab began crossing the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to the south of Yanam, as a very severe cyclonic storm, a little after IMD Director General Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said landfall was expected within the hour.

    Strong winds were recorded at Kakinada (87 km/h), Bhimavaram (78 km/h) and Narsapur (55 km/h). Trees and power lines came down in Kakinada, Visakhapatnam and along NH 216 near Yanam.

    Source: The Pioneer

  5. Over 250 mm of rain in parts of north coastal Andhra

    In the 24 hours to 00:30 IST, Yellamanchili recorded 196.5 mm, Anakapalle 157 mm, Gangavaram 143.5 mm and Kalingapatnam 111 mm. Between 8:30 am on 27 October and 4 am on 28 October, Visakhapatnam city received 259 mm and Vizianagaram town 260 mm; Kannuripalem in Anakapalle district topped the list at 261.5 mm.

    Source: The Pioneer

  7. Trains, flights cancelled; schools shut

    Railways cancelled or suspended dozens of services on coastal routes (reports put the total between 53 and 91 trains). At least 21 flights were cancelled at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam airports.

    Schools were closed in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Konaseema on 27 and 28 October, and in 16 of Odisha's 30 districts.

    Source: The Pioneer

  8. 84,000 evacuated in Andhra, 48,000 in Odisha

    More than 84,000 people were moved to 290 relief shelters in Andhra Pradesh, and about 48,000 were evacuated in Odisha. Thousands of pregnant women close to their due dates were shifted to hospitals in both states.

    Source: The Pioneer

  9. Peak strength: 150–160 km/h; landfall expected overnight

    IMD said Arnab had reached peak sustained winds of 150–160 km/h, gusting to 180 km/h, over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Its 5:30 pm bulletin expected landfall winds of 125–135 km/h, gusting to 150 km/h, then weakening to a cyclonic storm by midday on 28 October, a deep depression by the evening and a depression by early Thursday.

    The US Joint Typhoon Warning Center estimated higher winds of about 222 km/h (it averages winds over one minute; IMD uses three minutes).

    A 65-year-old man died at Mangalapalem in Visakhapatnam district after coming into contact with live wires, according to The Hindu as cited by The Pioneer.

    Sources: Down To Earth, The Pioneer

  10. Arnab intensifies over the Bay of Bengal

    At 5:30 am, Arnab was over the central and west-central Bay of Bengal, about 650 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, moving west-northwest and strengthening. IMD issued orange alerts for heavy to very heavy rain in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karaikal, and yellow alerts for coastal Andhra Pradesh.

    The name Arnab was suggested by Bangladesh.

    Source: Down To Earth