Cyclone Death Toll Rises to Five in Andhra Pradesh

Five people have died in Andhra Pradesh after Cyclone Arnab crossed the coast, up from the three deaths reported earlier in the day. The state’s chief minister said the deaths involved electric shocks and a wall collapse. The storm also uprooted trees and power poles, damaged roads and flooded low-lying areas. Heavy rain left homes and fields at risk of further flooding. ^1,4

Those five deaths came as the storm moved inland after crossing the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. Wednesday. The India Meteorological Department said Arnab had weakened from a severe cyclonic storm to a cyclonic storm by Wednesday evening. It was moving north-northwest at 8 kilometres per hour and was expected to weaken into a deep depression by midnight. More than 55,000 people had been evacuated from at-risk parts of Andhra Pradesh before the storm arrived. ^2,11

The evacuated residents are among those facing ongoing risks from rainwater, swollen rivers and damaged power lines. The weather department warned of a moderate to high risk of sudden flooding in 13 Andhra districts and Yanam until 5:30 a.m. Thursday, as wet ground and low-lying areas could flood quickly. In Yanam, strong winds damaged electricity poles and trees, while floodwater entered homes; rice crops and fishermen’s dried fish supplies were also hit. Odisha evacuated more than 30,000 people as heavy rain threatened its southern districts. ^3,6,8

Those warnings remain in force even as Arnab loses strength. Andhra Pradesh officials are checking damage, restoring services and arranging help for affected families, farmers and fishermen. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked for a central team to assess the losses, while the government announced ₹5 lakh in aid for each family of a person killed. Residents in flood-prone areas still face the immediate task of staying clear of rising water and damaged lines. ^1,4,7