Cyclone Arnab Loses Strength After Landfall as Four More NDRF Teams Are Sent to Andhra Pradesh

Cyclone Arnab has weakened after making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast, with weather officials expecting the system to lose further intensity as it moves inland. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed four additional teams to Andhra Pradesh to strengthen rescue and relief operations amid concerns over heavy rainfall, coastal damage and flooding. NDRF Inspector General Narendra Singh Bundela said at a press conference in Delhi that the cyclone had been downgraded from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm. According to the assessment shared by officials, the system was expected to weaken further into a cyclonic storm before deteriorating into a deep depression by Wednesday evening.

The additional NDRF teams were sent to Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night, with the Indian Air Force transporting personnel to the state. The deployment was undertaken in anticipation of significant impacts along the coastline and to support emergency response efforts. Bundela said the NDRF, State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and district-level emergency teams were actively working in affected areas. The Andhra Pradesh government has deployed 80 SDRF teams to assist with evacuation, rescue and other emergency operations.

Authorities have also carried out evacuations in Yanam, where rainfall left some residents stranded. According to Bundela, NDRF personnel evacuated 38 people from the area by Tuesday evening. The state government is providing regular updates on casualties, damage and other developments through its State Emergency Operation Centre. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that Cyclone Arnab completed its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, southwest of Yanam, by 8 am on Wednesday, October 28. The storm crossed the coast between 2 am and 8 am, with its centre moving completely over land by the end of that period.

During landfall, the cyclone recorded maximum sustained winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph. At 8:30 am, the system was located over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and the adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. The IMD placed its centre approximately 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km southwest of Yanam and 60 km southwest of Kakinada.

The Andhra Pradesh government has placed the state on high alert, with the Chief Minister's Office saying officials are working continuously to protect residents and limit damage to property. Authorities are monitoring vulnerable locations and coordinating emergency response measures as the storm weakens. Although no fatalities had been reported at the time of the announcement, the cyclone's powerful waves and coastal impact have already damaged infrastructure. Severe sea conditions and coastal erosion affected the Uppada coastal road near Kakinada, prompting repair and restoration work to begin. Officials are working to restore connectivity and protect the vulnerable shoreline. Emergency teams remain deployed across affected areas as authorities continue to monitor weather conditions, assess damage and prepare for further rainfall and possible flooding.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.