Cyclone Arnab LIVE: New Bay system likely to head for Andhra coast; 300 villages marooned in Ganjam

Arnab’s remnant brings rain to West Bengal, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh after weakening into a depression

Updated - October 29, 2026 05:42 pm IST

SDRF personnel move people out of a flooded area in Srikakulam district, in a picture posted by the Andhra Pradesh police on Thursday. Flash floods from Cyclone Arnab’s rain have hit the north Andhra district. X/@APPOLICE100 | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

A low-pressure area over the south Andaman Sea is likely to strengthen into a depression around October 31 and then move west-northwest towards the Andhra Pradesh coast over the following two days, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Thursday (October 29, 2026). Arnab itself has weakened into a depression over central Chhattisgarh.

Editorial | Hunker down: On Cyclone Arnab, its landfall

About 300 villages are cut off in Odisha’s Ganjam district. In north Andhra, the Bahuda flooded Ichchapuram and a submerged railway bridge nearby halted trains.

Watch | Cyclone Arnab batters east coast: 5 dead in Andhra Pradesh, 17 Odisha districts affected

Rain has now spread to West Bengal, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Puducherry and assured them of all help.

What Cyclone Arnab revealed about India's weather preparedness | The Hindu Editorial

Cyclone Arnab, the first named storm of the North Indian Ocean cyclone season, intensified rapidly before making landfall as a very severe cyclonic storm along the Andhra Pradesh coast. While proactive evacuation and disaster management measures helped limit the loss of life, the storm exposed challenges in forecasting rapid intensification, managing disruptions and protecting vulnerable communities. With Odisha still facing heavy rain, flood risks and agricultural concerns, the impact of Cyclone Arnab continues beyond landfall. This editorial looks at what made Cyclone Arnab significant, the challenges it posed, and the lessons for disaster preparedness in India.

A low-pressure system lingering off Tamil Nadu may have fed extra moisture to Cyclone Arnab, helping sustain its rain bands as it neared the Andhra coast, weather experts said.

Experts also said conditions over the Bay of Bengal were turning favourable for the new system near the Andaman Sea to intensify, possibly into a cyclonic storm. If it strengthens, it could head for the coast somewhere between Chennai and Andhra Pradesh, bringing heavy rain on November 1 and 2.

Cyclone Arnab likely drew moisture from Tamil Nadu system, but did not merge

Cyclone Arnab which has now weakened after crossing coast, Tamil Nadu moisture may have fed it

Six fishing boats were damaged or sunk at the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour when gale-force winds hit the city on the night of October 27 and 28. Inspector-General of Police (Coastal Security) Gopinath Jetty inspected the harbour on Thursday with Fisheries Department officials and boat owners. He asked fishermen to follow weather warnings, anchor their boats securely and stay off the sea in bad weather.

- V. Kamalakara Rao Fishing.jpeg

A stretch of black sand at Bhimili beach near Visakhapatnam on Thursday, after Cyclone Arnab’s waves churned up the shore.

Photo:K.R. Deepak black.jpeg

The new system over the Andaman Sea could bring another spell of heavy rain to coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 1 and 2, IMD officials in Amaravati said on Thursday. An expert at the Cyclone Warning Centre in Visakhapatnam said there was a possibility of another cyclone, but it was too early to be sure. Rayalaseema is unlikely to get much rain this time either.

Arnab’s two days of rain have wiped out the shortfall in north Andhra, but much of the State is still short of its normal rain for the season. - Sravani Nellore

The Indian Coast Guard has airlifted 13 crew members from the Sigma Pearl, a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier stranded off Antarvedi in Konaseema district, an official release said on Thursday. A helicopter operation to rescue the remaining seven was under way. The rescued crew have been taken aboard the Coast Guard vessel Sujay. The 180-metre ship had left Visakhapatnam for Singapore and was caught in the rough sea during Cyclone Arnab.- PTI

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu conducted an aerial survey of flooded paddy, banana and coconut plantations and aqua ponds in Krishna, West Godavari and Konaseema districts on Thursday to assess the damage from Cyclone Arnab.

An Indian Coast Guard helicopter began rescuing stranded people in Odisha’s Ganjam district on Thursday afternoon, the State’s Special Relief Commissioner told PTI. Fifty-four teams from the NDRF, the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force and the Fire Service are also working on the ground.