Cyclone Arnab made landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, near Yanam, on 28 October 2026. The very severe cyclonic storm brought winds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts up to 150 kmph, and heavy rainfall across parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Landfall and rainfall
The landfall process took place between 2 am and 8 am on 28 October. By 8.30 am IST, the system had weakened to a severe cyclonic storm. Rainfall exceeding 200 mm was recorded between 27 and 28 October in Anakapalli, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh. Strong winds uprooted trees and electricity poles, damaged houses and disrupted power supply. Flooding affected roads and traffic, while major airports were closed. Authorities warned that heavy rainfall could continue on 28 and 29 October, with further flooding and disruption possible.
Evacuation and emergency response
Odisha evacuated more than 30,000 people, mainly from Malkangiri, Ganjam and Koraput districts, where heavy to extremely heavy rainfall was forecast. In Andhra Pradesh, 609 schools were converted into relief shelters, and police rescued people stranded in Kakinada. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) began clearing fallen trees and debris in Yanam. A 30-member NDRF team worked to remove a large banyan tree that had fallen on a house. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed response operations and directed officials to clear trees and restore electricity. No deaths or major casualties had been reported in Andhra Pradesh or Odisha as of 28 October.
Cyclone classification and disaster management
The India Meteorological Department classifies cyclonic storms by maximum sustained wind speed. A severe cyclonic storm has wind speeds of 88–117 kmph, while a very severe cyclonic storm has wind speeds of 118–166 kmph. Arnab’s reported landfall wind speeds fell within the very severe cyclonic storm range. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 provides the legal framework for disaster management in India. Section 44 of the Act provides for the constitution of the NDRF as a specialised response force.
Important Facts for Exams
- The Bay of Bengal is one of the two North Indian Ocean basins monitored for tropical cyclones by the India Meteorological Department.
- The NDRF is constituted under Section 44 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- The IMD’s very severe cyclonic storm category covers sustained winds of 118–166 kmph.
- Yanam is one of the four districts of the Union Territory of Puducherry.
The cyclone weakened after landfall, but heavy rainfall was forecast to continue through 29 October 2026. Odisha’s evacuation of more than 30,000 people and the opening of 609 relief shelters in Andhra Pradesh formed part of the reported emergency response.
