Cyclone Arnab hits India's east coast after mass evacuations

Cyclone Arnab made landfall on India’s eastern coast on Wednesday morning, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain after more than 180,000 people were evacuated from vulnerable areas.

The India Meteorological Department said the “very severe” cyclonic storm crossed the coast near the port city of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh at around 11:30am local time (06:00 GMT). Sustained winds were recorded at 115–125 km/h (71–78 mph), with gusts reaching up to 140 km/h (87 mph).

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring Odisha had been moving residents to shelters since Monday. By the time the storm arrived, over 180,000 people had been relocated, according to local disaster management officials. The storm’s projected path runs inland and north across India, putting an estimated 12 million people in its way.

Rail services were severely disrupted. At least 12 trains were cancelled in eastern India and services on 53 routes along the southern coast were suspended for Tuesday and Wednesday. In Odisha, plans were in place to evacuate about 48,000 people from coastal areas.

Cyclone Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal, a region known for producing powerful tropical cyclones that frequently affect India’s eastern coastline. The storm intensified quickly after forming on Monday.

The cyclone left a trail of destruction along the eastern coastline, with fierce wind and rain causing damage in coastal districts. Further north, authorities in Nepal advised tourists to avoid high-altitude areas from Thursday night to Saturday, as the storm is expected to bring heavy rain, snowstorms and possible avalanches to the Himalayas.