Cyclone Arnab: Landfall weakens to 'severe' cyclonic storm after crossing Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast; 20,000 evacuated, trees uprooted, power cut in Konaseema, Kakinada

VISAKHAPATNAM/KAKINADA/AMALAPURAM: Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts on Wednesday morning and weakened from a very severe cyclonic storm into a severe cyclonic storm, bringing heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, uprooting hundreds of trees and electric poles, disrupting power supply and communication, and damaging roads and standing crops across coastal districts.There were no reported casualties apart from a death due to electrocution in Visakhapatnam city. More than 20,000 people were evacuated from coastal districts before the cyclone made landfall.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the landfall process began around 1.20am on Wednesday and was completed by 9am, with the weather system moving entirely over land. Peak wind speeds reached 135 kmph, with gusts of up to 150 kmph.The cyclone crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts southwest of Yanam, about 20km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40km southwest of Yanam and 60km southwest of Kakinada. Precautionary measures taken by the administration helped limit casualties in the state.Konaseema was among the worst-affected districts, with winds reaching up to 130 kmph. Trees and electric poles were uprooted, while standing paddy and horticulture crops were damaged. Roads were blocked, and power supply and communication were disrupted.Preliminary estimates indicated that hundreds of trees and around 100 electric poles had been uprooted in Kakinada district. No major damage was reported, and rainfall subsided after 2am on Wednesday. The Uppada coastal road in the district was completely washed away.In Visakhapatnam, hundreds of trees were uprooted and several low-lying areas experienced waterlogging. The city recorded more than 20cm of rainfall in 24 hours.Electricity connections in parts of the state were expected to be restored by Wednesday evening, while major highways were expected to be cleared within hours.Two National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and two State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams had been deployed a day before the cyclone to undertake road clearance and rescue operations in response to emergency calls.In Alluri Sitharama Raju district, an old bridge at Tadiguda village in Anantagiri mandal was washed away. No injuries or casualties were reported in the incident.The IMD said the system was moving northwestwards and was centred about 20km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40km southwest of Yanam, 60km southwest of Kakinada, 90km east-northeast of Machilipatnam, 120km east of Gannavaram and 120km southwest of Tuni.It was very likely to move north-northwestwards over the next 48 hours and weaken gradually. The system was expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm within the next few hours and further into a deep depression over the subsequent six hours.Rainfall in Andhra PradeshThe following rainfall figures were reported by the IMD:Garividi, Vizianagaram district: 26cmAnakapalle, Anakapalli district: 25cmSrungavarapukota, Vizianagaram district: 25cmVepada, Vizianagaram district: 25cmCheepurupalle, Vizianagaram district: 25cmBheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam district: 24cmMentada, Vizianagaram district: 24cmYelamanchili, Anakapalli district: 24cmGantyada, Vizianagaram district: 23cmRanastalam, Srikakulam district: 23cmGajapathinagaram, Vizianagaram district: 22cmNellimarla, Vizianagaram district: 22cmVisakhapatnam: 22cmYou Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Vijayawada | Silver Rate in Vijayawada | Bank Holidays in Vijayawada | Public Holidays in Vijayawada | Petrol Price in Vijayawada | Diesel Price in Vijayawada | CNG Price in Vijayawada | LPG Price in VijayawadaStay updated with the latest Vijayawada news. Download the TOI App.