Published Oct 28, 2026 | 3:09 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 28, 2026 | 3:15 PM
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu held a review on the impact of Cyclone Arnab. (Supplied)
Synopsis: Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapuram, southwest of Yanam, between 2 am and 8 am on Wednesday, weakening into a severe cyclonic storm. The cyclone disrupted air and rail services, prompting Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to review relief and restoration work and seek central teams to assess the damage.
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu held a review on the impact of Cyclone Arnab as it crossed the coast of Andhra Pradesh, along with the ongoing relief and restoration work.
He directed officials to ensure that people in the cyclone-affected areas do not face any difficulties, to clear fallen trees from roads within two hours to restore traffic movement, and to restore power supply immediately after the gusty winds subside.
According to information released by the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday, 28 October, at 10:20 AM, Cyclone Arnab has crossed the coast. The agency stated that the cyclone crossed the coast near Narsapuram, southwest of Yanam, between 2:00 AM and 8:00 AM. It noted that it subsequently weakened into a severe cyclonic storm.
Disaster Management Authority MD Prakhar Jain advised people to remain alert even though the cyclone has crossed the coast. As there is a possibility of heavy rains in several districts on Wednesday, he asked people to be cautious.
తీరం దాటిన అర్నబ్ తుపాన్
రాత్రి 2 నుంచి ఉదయం 8 గంటల మధ్య యానాంకు నైరుతిగా( నరసాపురం సమీపంలో) తీరం దాటిన తుపాను
తీవ్ర తుపానుగా బలహీనపడిన అర్నబ్
తీరం దాటినప్పటికి ప్రజలు అప్రమత్తంగా ఉండాలి
నేడు పలు జిల్లాలలకు భారీ వర్ష సూచన : ప్రఖర్ జైన్ , ఎండీ, విపత్తుల సంస్థ. https://t.co/r3zg2ARLH3
— Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (@APSDMA) October 28, 2026
Detailing the damage caused in the state by Cyclone Arnab, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He requested that central teams be sent to the state as soon as possible to assess the damage. He also appealed for the continued cooperation of the NDRF and other central agencies in the cyclone relief operations.
In the letter, he mentioned that 16 NDRF and 11 SDRF teams have been deployed across 14 districts for cyclone relief operations. He stated that over 28,000 people in the cyclone-affected areas have been shifted to relief camps. He explained that due to the precautionary measures taken by the government, no loss of life has been recorded so far.
The CM revealed that according to preliminary estimates, 180 houses were damaged and more than 220 trees fell on the roads. He stated that roads were damaged at several places in the coastal areas and power supply was disrupted. He explained that power restoration works have been taken up on a war footing.
In the letter, he stated that due to heavy rains, preliminary estimates indicate that paddy crops in approximately 70,900 hectares have been inundated, and horticultural crops in another 10,450 hectares have suffered damage. He noted that the impact of the cyclone is severe in Konaseema, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Anakapalli, and Krishna districts.
The CM explained that control rooms and the State Emergency Operations Centre are working round-the-clock to deal with emergencies. He stated that the government is specially focusing on providing relief measures to the people and restoring electricity and drinking water supply. Stating that a report will be submitted to the Centre after a comprehensive assessment of the damage, he thanked the Central Government for extending continuous support to the state.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reached the Amaravati Secretariat and inspected the conditions in the cyclone-affected districts through CCTV cameras from the RTGS centre. RTGS officials briefed the CM on the trajectory of Cyclone Arnab and the prevailing ground-level conditions.
He inquired with the officials whether traffic problems had arisen due to falling trees in various areas. He instructed them to remove fallen trees immediately along national highways and other areas and restore the transport system.
IT Department Secretary Katamneni Bhaskar explained that the situation is being continuously monitored through RTGS since the cyclone warnings were issued. Officials informed the CM that complaints received through the ‘Mana Mitra’ app are being forwarded to the concerned officials and problems are being resolved immediately.
Also Read: Cyclone Arnab batters north Andhra Pradesh, uproots 6,000 power poles in Konaseema
Due to the impact of the cyclone, huge trees were uprooted and fell on roads in several areas, disrupting traffic. Against this backdrop, the CM ordered the immediate removal of fallen trees on national highways as well as other major roads. CM also instructed officials to keep necessary machinery ready and take measures so that traffic is not halted for long anywhere on the roads.
He instructed that power supply should be restored as soon as the intensity of the gusty winds subsides, and ensured that there are no difficulties regarding drinking water. He ordered that food, drinking water, and medical facilities be made available to the people taking shelter in cyclone relief camps, and suggested ensuring that water does not stagnate in low-lying areas and that drains function properly.
The CM stated that the WhatsApp ‘Mana Mitra’ system, set up for people to bring their problems to the notice of the government, should be utilised to its full extent. He ordered that complaints received through this system be sent to the concerned officials immediately and the problems be resolved quickly. He made it clear that complainants should also be informed once their issue is resolved.
The Chief Minister inquired about the damage caused to agricultural and horticultural crops due to the impact of Cyclone Arnab. He ordered officials to inspect the ground-level conditions and prepare preliminary estimates regarding crop damage.
Naidu suggested taking measures to prevent water from entering fields and to prevent further damage to horticultural crops.
He told irrigation officials to stay alert to prevent breaches in tanks and canals, and to take precautionary protective measures wherever necessary. He ordered that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams be kept ready.
Also Read: Andhra Pradesh shifts 2,838 pregnant women ahead of Cyclone Arnab, cancels doctors’ leave
Due to the severity of Cyclone Arnab, 16 flight services have reportedly been cancelled as a precautionary measure at the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport in Bhogapuram.
In the wake of adverse weather and severe winds, flight services operating on the Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Tirupati routes have been temporarily suspended. In view of passenger safety, airlines became alert and began the process of communicating the cancellation information to passengers.
Several services from Vijayawada International Airport (Gannavaram) and Rajamahendravaram Airport were also cancelled on Tuesday and Wednesday. Six flight services operating to and from Vijayawada were cancelled. Five IndiGo services operating to Gannavaram from Kadapa, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru were reportedly cancelled.
The Visakhapatnam Air India Express service was also cancelled. Representatives of IndiGo Airlines stated that all services belonging to the airline were cancelled on Wednesday. Along with Fly91 services between Hyderabad and Vijayawada, the Air India New Delhi service was also cancelled. Several services were cancelled at Rajamahendravaram Airport as well.
Due to the impact of Cyclone Arnab, the Railway Department cancelled several trains and made changes in the routes of some others. Among the trains cancelled on the 27th and 28th of this month are Srikakulam Road–Charlapalli (07038), Secunderabad–Howrah (12704), Secunderabad–Bhubaneswar (17016), Hyderabad–Visakhapatnam (12728), Mahabubnagar–Visakhapatnam (12862), Lingampalli–Kakinada (12776), Lingampalli–Narsapur (17256), Lingampalli–Kakinada (12738), Nanded–Sambalpur (20810), and Charlapalli–Srikakulam Road (07037).
South Central Railway CPRO Sridhar revealed that the train running from Nagarsol to Narsapur (12788) will be operated only between Charlapalli and Narsapur.
Due to the impact of Cyclone Arnab, heavy rains and gusty winds severely affected several villages in Bhogapuram mandal of Vizianagaram district.
Public life came to a standstill due to rains that fell from early Tuesday morning until Wednesday morning. Trees broke and fell at several places. As tanks filled up, water overflowed. With the power supply cut off, difficulties arose regarding drinking water.
Due to the heavy flood flow, a culvert near Jammayyapeta on the route from Savaravilli to Koulawada was washed away. Similarly, a bridge near Jeerupeta on the road leading from Savaravilli via Ravada to Annavaram village in Bheemili mandal was damaged.
With traffic coming to a halt on these two routes, people of approximately 20 villages are unable to commute. Those who had to travel for emergency work faced difficulties. Locals are requesting that repairs be carried out on the damaged roads and bridges to restore traffic, and that electricity and drinking water issues be resolved.
With heavy rains lashing Anakapalli district due to the impact of Cyclone Arnab, floodwater is flowing heavily over causeways in several areas.
Following the orders of District SP Tuhin Sinha, under the guidance of Anakapalli Sub-Division DSP P.V.V. Narasimha Rao, and under the supervision of Kothakota CI Koteswara Rao, Butchayyapeta SI Manoj Kumar issued warnings to the public.
As floodwater is flowing at dangerous levels over the Vaddadi and Vijayaramarajupeta causeways in Butchayyapeta mandal, traffic on them has been completely halted. No vehicles, including pedestrians, two-wheelers, autos, buses, and lorries, are being allowed.
Police warned cattle herders not to attempt making their cattle cross the causeways. People of Butchayyapeta, V Madugula, Chodavaram, and Cheedikada mandals were advised not to come out of their houses unless it is an emergency. They asked people not to underestimate the force of the floodwater and attempt to cross the causeways.
They stated that police security at the causeways will continue until the floodwater recedes and the weather becomes favourable. In case of emergencies, people were advised to contact Dial 112 or the local police station.
Jana Sena President Pawan Kalyan called upon Jana Sena leaders, Veera Mahilas, and Jana Sainiks to participate in relief operations in the Cyclone Arnab-affected areas.
He stated that the cyclone is having a severe impact on the coastal districts of the state, and heavy rains are likely to occur even after it crosses the coast.
He noted that the alliance government is undertaking relief measures in the cyclone-affected areas. As people from low-lying and coastal areas have been shifted to relief camps, he instructed party cadres to provide them with necessary assistance, food, and milk. He also appealed to them to stand by those in need of emergency medical care.
In the wake of Cyclone Arnab, District Collector Dr G Lakshmisha ordered the official machinery across NTR district to remain on high alert. He clarified that even if the rain subsides, the cyclone threat is not completely over, and severe gusty winds are likely to blow when the cyclone crosses the coast.
Reviewing the latest situation constantly through the Command Control Room, the Collector ordered that rehabilitation centres be kept fully ready for the safety of people in low-lying and hilly areas. He instructed field-level teams to take up restoration measures on a war footing if trees fall, electric poles collapse, or roads get blocked.
The Collector expressed anger at staff who did not immediately upload field-level information into the spreadsheet. He ordered disciplinary action against those who do not follow the rules. As the Chief Minister’s Office is continuously reviewing the cyclone relief operations, he made it clear that officials must work without resting even for a moment.
Due to the impact of Cyclone Arnab, huge trees were uprooted in several areas of Eluru district due to strong gusty winds. Vehicular traffic was disrupted as trees fell on the roads. Following the orders of Eluru District SP K Pratap Shiva Kishore, Denduluru SI Venkata Kumar, along with his staff, took up immediate relief measures.
Coordinating with officials of the concerned departments, they removed the trees that had fallen across the roads with the help of cranes and bulldozers. They cleared obstacles to vehicular movement and took steps to prevent accidents.
Eluru District SP K Pratap Shiva Kishore toured the district at the field level and supervised the relief operations. He ordered police officers to immediately remove fallen trees from roads and ensure there is no traffic disruption. He suggested utilising heavy machinery in required areas and coordinating with the concerned departments.
Similarly, with fierce gusty winds and heavy rains lashing across Krishna district due to the impact of Cyclone Arnab, huge trees were uprooted and fell on roads in several areas. This caused severe disruption to vehicular movement.
Even at midnight, Krishna district police officers and staff acted with alertness. Across the limits of all police stations in the district, they took up relief operations braving the adverse weather. They removed the huge trees that fell on the roads and took measures to ensure obstacle-free travel.
The staff worked in coordination to ensure that those undertaking emergency travel did not face difficulties and to minimise disruption to public transport. District SP V Vidyasagar Naidu appreciated the services of the police officers and staff who stood by the people during these adverse conditions.
In the erstwhile West Godavari district too, huge trees and electric poles collapsed on main roads. This disrupted the transport system and caused difficulties to public life.
Against this backdrop, Minister Nimmala Ramanaidu undertook a field visit on a bike in the Palakollu constituency starting from the early hours of the morning. He ordered officials to take immediate steps so that people do not face difficulties. Near the municipal office in Palakollu, he participated along with municipal and electricity department staff in the work of removing a huge tree that had fallen across the main road.
He instructed officials to take up restoration work immediately without any hindrance to public life, and spoke over the phone with Electricity Minister Gottipati Ravikumar as well as senior officials of various government departments and reviewed the situation.
The Minister instructed officials to assess the damage caused to paddy, banana, and other horticultural crops. He also appealed to the leaders of the alliance parties to voluntarily participate in the cyclone relief programs.
Also Read: Cyclone Arnab: South Central Railway cancels 11 trains as Andhra Pradesh braces for landfall
Minister Narayana held a teleconference with Municipal Commissioners in the Cyclone Arnab-affected areas. He ordered that steps be taken constantly to ensure that public life in towns does not face difficulties due to the cyclone’s impact.
Suggesting that staff should be ready with necessary machinery to immediately remove fallen trees on the roads, the minister stated that appropriate precautions should be taken near hoardings that have become dangerous due to gusty winds.
He also ordered engineering staff to take immediate measures so that water does not stagnate on roads and in drains, and suggested taking precautions to prevent sanitation issues and contamination of drinking water due to the rains.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
