Published Oct 28, 2026 | 9:06 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 28, 2026 | 9:37 AM
The cyclone’s landfall process was likely to be completed within the next hour, the IMD said.
Synopsis: Cyclone Arnab battered north Andhra Pradesh and the Godavari districts on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain and strong winds that flooded low-lying areas, damaged roads and houses, disrupted power supplies and flattened paddy crops. In Konaseema district alone, about 6,000 electric poles were uprooted, according to the District Collector. The India Meteorological Department said the storm’s landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts was nearing completion on Wednesday morning, with winds gusting up to 140 kmph.
Heavy rain and strong winds under the influence of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab battered north Andhra Pradesh and the Godavari districts, inundating low-lying areas, uprooting trees and electric poles, disrupting road traffic and damaging agricultural fields on Wednesday, 28 October.
In Konaseema district alone, about 6,000 electric poles were uprooted, according to the District Collector.
Several areas in Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Vizianagaram, Kakinada, Konaseema and West Godavari districts reported damage to roads, houses and public infrastructure. Rainwater entered residential areas and agricultural fields, while overflowing streams and rivulets disrupted movement on several roads. Farmers were worried about damage to paddy crops that had reached the milky grain stage.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), in its hourly bulletin issued at 8.30 am on Wednesday, said the storm’s centre was over the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts, south of Yanam, near latitude 16.4°N and longitude 81.9°E.
It was about 20 km east of Narsapur, 70 km south-southwest of Kakinada, 80 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam, 120 km east of Gannavaram and 130 km south-southwest of Tuni.
The system had remained practically stationary between 6.30 am and 7.30 am. The rear portion of its wall-cloud region was entering the coastal area, and the landfall process was likely to be completed within the next hour, the IMD said.
Winds of 115-125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph, were expected to prevail over the landfall area for the next two hours and gradually decrease thereafter. The storm was likely to move slowly north-westwards initially and then north-north-westwards.
The IMD said that a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres above the astronomical tide was likely to inundate low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh during the next two hours before subsiding.
Airline IndiGo on Wednesday said flights to and from Rajahmundry, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam would remain impacted due to the cyclone.
The very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” [Pronunciation :Ornab] over Westcentral Bay of Bengal off Andhra Pradesh coast remains practically stationary during past 03 hours, and lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of today, the 28th October, 2026 over the same region, near latitude 16.4°N and longitude 82.0°E, about 30 km east of Narsapur (Andhra Pradesh), 45 km south-southwest of Yanam (Puducherry UT), 70 km south-southwest of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh), 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh), and 170 km east-northeast of Bapatla (Andhra Pradesh).
It is very likely to move northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh & Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to south of Yanam as a very severe cyclonic storm with the maximum sustained wind speed of 115-125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph during next 2 hours.Very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” is continuing to interact with the land surface and the Wall cloud region of northern sector has further entered into the land. Centre of Severe cyclonic storm is very close to the coast line and the landfall process will continue during next 2 hours.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 28, 2026
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Visakhapatnam experienced heavy rain and gusty winds, leaving several low-lying areas submerged. Residents of Sheelanagar and Harijana Jaggayyapalem under Gajuwaka limits faced difficulties after rainwater entered their houses.
Local fishermen reported that five boats had capsized. Huge waves lashed the Yarada coast as the sea surged towards the shore. Authorities temporarily closed RK Beach, Rushikonda and several other coastal areas as a precaution.
Visakhapatnam recorded 26 cm of rainfall, while Pendurthi received 24.2 cm and Simhachalam 23.7 cm.
In Anakapalli district, overflowing streams and rivulets disrupted road connectivity. At Vaddadi in Butchayyapeta mandal, the Sarada River, also known as Pedderu, flowed over the causeway beside the old bridge.
The Tacheru stream overflowed onto the temporary bridge at Vijayaramarajupeta, severely disrupting traffic towards Chodavaram, Paderu and Narsipatnam. Police halted vehicular movement on the affected routes.
Kasimkota recorded 26.3 cm of rainfall, the highest among the locations listed in the available reports. Parawada received 24.7 cm, Yelamanchili 24 cm and Atchutapuram 23.9 cm.
Heavy rain and strong winds disrupted normal life in several parts of Vizianagaram district. Bhogapuram recorded 26.2 cm of rainfall and Vepada 23.6 cm.
In Pachipenta mandal, a massive tree fell across the P. Konavalasa-Pachipenta road, disrupting traffic. Officials from the Roads and Buildings Department responded after receiving information from the District Collectorate control room. They removed the tree and restored traffic within about 20 minutes.
Heavy rain and gusty winds also affected several parts of the erstwhile Srikakulam district. Officials advised residents in cyclone-affected areas to remain alert.
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Heavy rain and strong gusty winds continued in Kakinada district through the night, bringing down trees on main roads and disrupting traffic. At Uppada, powerful sea waves damaged the beach road.
District Collector M N Harendhira Prasad advised people to remain vigilant and not leave their homes until night except in emergencies. He warned them against standing under trees or near electric poles and asked them to stay away from coastal areas.
In Konaseema district, low-lying areas were inundated, while strong winds uprooted coconut trees and electric poles in several places, disrupting power supply. Heavy rain and strong winds continued in Mummidivaram, Yanam and surrounding areas, damaging houses at some locations.
The District Collector said about 6,000 electric poles had been uprooted across Konaseema district.
Trees also fell at several locations in the Ramachandrapuram constituency. Traffic on the Draksharamam main road near Peddathallapalem was disrupted after a large tree fell across the road. Draksharamam Sub-Inspector Lakshman arranged a JCB and, with the help of labourers, cleared the branches and restored traffic.
Farmers in the constituency faced losses as paddy crops that had passed the heading stage and reached the milky grain stage were flattened by the rain and wind.
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Heavy rain through the night inundated agricultural fields in several parts of the Peddapuram constituency, raising concerns among farmers over crop damage.
At Dummulapeta near Gudivada in Peddapuram mandal, rainwater entered the locality, leaving residents anxious about possible inundation. They urged officials to drain water from agricultural fields and take precautionary measures in areas prone to flooding.
Palakollu and other parts of West Godavari district witnessed strong winds that brought down trees, electric poles and hoardings. Heavy rain disrupted traffic and power supply at several locations.
In Yanam, heavy rain and gusty winds continued from Tuesday midnight. Low-lying areas were submerged, and uprooted trees and electric poles affected normal life.
Across north Andhra, the twin Godavari districts and the Kakinada region, the continuing rain and strong winds left residents dealing with inundation, damaged infrastructure and disrupted transport. Officials initiated relief operations in the affected areas as farmers assessed the damage to standing crops.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
