BHUBANESWAR, India — October 29, 2026
At least six people have died after Cyclone Arnab struck India's eastern coast, bringing heavy rainfall and strong winds to parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, according to Reuters reporting on Thursday.
The storm made landfall early Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm. Its passage damaged homes and infrastructure, uprooted trees and disrupted electricity supplies across affected areas.
Extensive damage and evacuations
Authorities reported damage to at least 15,000 electricity poles. Power restoration had progressed across much of the affected region by Thursday, although some districts continued experiencing disruptions.
More than 180,000 people were evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha before the cyclone arrived. Officials also reported school closures and cancellations affecting some train and flight services.
A cargo vessel carrying 20 crew members remained grounded offshore amid rough sea conditions, adding to the challenges facing emergency and maritime authorities.
Recovery efforts continue
The authorities are assessing infrastructure damage, restoring essential services and monitoring remaining weather-related risks. The scale of the evacuation demonstrates the importance of early warnings and organised disaster response in densely populated coastal areas.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said technology had helped officials identify high-risk locations and reduce the potential human and economic impact.
Residents in affected communities may continue to face disruption while electricity, transport and other essential services are restored.
Casualty figures and damage assessments remain subject to updates from local authorities.
