New Delhi, 28 October (H.S.): Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab continued its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast on Wednesday morning, bringing heavy rainfall, destructive winds and widespread disruption to power and road networks. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the landfall process began around 1.10 am and was still underway in its morning bulletin, with the storm centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, south of Yanam.

The cyclone was packing maximum sustained winds of 125-135 kmph, with gusts reaching 150 kmph, during the landfall phase. The IMD warned that a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the astronomical tide could inundate low-lying coastal areas, while heavy rainfall raised the risk of flash floods in several districts. A flash-flood alert was issued for 15 districts, including Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, NTR, Eluru, West Godavari, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada, Alluri, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Parvathipuram Manyam.

Trees Uprooted, Power Network Damaged

Strong winds uprooted trees and snapped electricity lines in several coastal areas. In Kakinada district, officials reported extensive damage to power infrastructure, including nearly 6,000 electricity poles uprooted in Konaseema. The Uppada coastal road was reported to have been washed away, while hundreds of trees were uprooted in the district.

In Visakhapatnam, fallen trees obstructed traffic along Beach Road, Seethammadhara and Zilla Parishad Junction. Trees and electricity poles also fell on a main road in Yanam, where Puducherry Minister Malladi Krishna Rao inspected the damage. Waterlogging and blocked roads were reported in Konaseema and Machilipatnam, while passengers were stranded at the Kakinada bus complex after bus services were suspended.

Rainfall was particularly intense in parts of Anakapalli, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. Between 8.30 am on Tuesday and 4 am on Wednesday, Kannuripalem in Anakapalli district recorded 261.5 mm, while Vizianagaram recorded 259.74 mm and Visakhapatnam 259.06 mm, according to the reported district rainfall figures.

No Casualties Reported So Far

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said no loss of life had been reported in Andhra Pradesh as of the morning update, attributing the situation to precautionary measures taken by the administration. During a teleconference with around 32,000 personnel, including district collectors, he directed officials to clear roads blocked by fallen trees within two hours, prioritising national highways.

The Chief Minister also instructed officials to restore electricity after strong winds subside, ensure the availability of food, drinking water and medical facilities at relief centres, assess crop damage and prevent breaches in tanks and canals. Authorities have urged residents to remain indoors until the landfall process is complete and wind speeds subside. Police restricted public access to Visakhapatnam's Ramakrishna Beach amid rough seas and high tides.

The Andhra Pradesh School Education Department had converted 609 schools into rehabilitation centres, accommodating 854 people as of 5.50 am, officials said. The administration continued to monitor conditions in vulnerable coastal areas as emergency teams worked to clear roads and respond to damage.

Flights Cancelled, Transport Disrupted

Airlines cancelled several services because of adverse weather. Air India cancelled six flights on the Delhi-Visakhapatnam route scheduled for October 27 and services on the Delhi-Vijayawada-Delhi sector for Wednesday. Air India Express reported 13 cancellations, mainly affecting routes connecting Visakhapatnam with Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Vijayawada, as well as its Varanasi-Bangkok and Bangkok-Visakhapatnam services.

IndiGo suspended operations at Visakhapatnam and cancelled services at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry after 7 pm on Tuesday. Akasa Air cancelled its Delhi-Bhogapuram and return services scheduled for Wednesday. The final number of cancellations remained provisional.

The Andhra Pradesh meteorological authorities said the cyclone was expected to weaken from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm after crossing the coast and further into a cyclonic storm by the afternoon. Wind speeds were forecast to decrease gradually, although heavy rain, flooding and disruptions to road, rail, air and essential services remained possible.

Odisha Also Faces Heavy Rain and Strong Winds

Odisha remained on alert as the cyclone's effects extended into the state. The IMD issued a red warning for extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada and Nabarangpur districts, with winds of 60-70 kmph and gusts up to 80 kmph expected in affected areas. Other southern districts were under orange alerts for heavy to very heavy rain.

The state had deployed 313 response teams, comprising 60 Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force teams, nine NDRF teams and 244 Fire and Emergency Services teams. More than 2,000 shelters had been readied, while officials shifted high-risk pregnant women to healthcare facilities and cleared roads blocked by fallen trees. Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said all departments were on high alert.

Authorities in both states continued relief and restoration work as the cyclone moved inland. The IMD said wind speeds were expected to decline gradually, but residents in vulnerable areas were advised to follow official warnings and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improved.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Indrani Sarkar