Cyclone Arnab destroys 79,000 acres of Andhra Pradesh farmland

Eastern India faced severe weather on Wednesday as Cyclone Arnab struck the coast of Andhra Pradesh, resulting in a measured loss of agricultural land and infrastructure. The storm system moved inland after making landfall early in the day, bringing with it high-velocity winds and sustained rainfall that impacted fourteen coastal districts.

State Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reported that the cyclone damaged 79,000 acres of crops. This figure includes extensive damage to banana and coconut plantations in the Konaseema district. Naidu requested urgent financial assistance from the central government to address the repair of houses, roads, and electricity infrastructure across the affected regions.

Authorities confirmed at least three deaths associated with the storm. In the port city of Visakhapatnam, two women were electrocuted in separate incidents. A third person died in the East Godavari district after a tree collapsed. The India Meteorological Department noted that heavy rainfall flooded low-lying areas in Visakhapatnam, while strong winds continued to affect parts of southern Odisha state.

Preparations for the landfall included the evacuation of at least 180,000 people from flood-prone zones in Andhra Pradesh. The state’s disaster management authority stated that more than 12 million people reside along the storm’s expected path. In neighboring Odisha, officials planned to move approximately 48,000 residents to safety. Transport services were adjusted, with some train services canceled and fishing boats secured in harbors.

The physical impact of the storm included uprooted trees and power poles, which disrupted electricity services across the Konaseema district. Medical teams were deployed to the affected areas to provide care and manage the aftermath. The storm weakened as it traveled further inland, but its effects on the agricultural sector remained immediate and quantifiable.

Further north, the disaster agency in Nepal issued warnings for heavy rain, lightning, and thunderstorms across much of the country. The agency advised tourists to avoid high-altitude and Himalayan areas due to potential disruptions to road and air travel. This alert comes as Nepal continues its recovery from flash floods in August that killed more than 1,400 people and left thousands missing, with additional flooding reported in the north earlier this month.

Farooq reported from Hyderabad, India, while AP journalist Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Nepal, contributed to the report. The data on crop loss and evacuation numbers were provided by state officials and the India Meteorological Department.