Odisha, Oct 29: Cyclone Arnab has made landfall near Yanam and Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh, bringing with it fierce winds reaching speeds of 125–135 km/h. The cyclone has caused extensive damage across Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. At least six people have lost their lives in Andhra Pradesh due to incidents related to the cyclone. As a stringent precautionary measure, over 1.8 lakh people have been evacuated to safer locations across both states.
Disruption of Daily Life in Andhra Pradesh:
Six lives have been claimed by the cyclone in Andhra Pradesh. Severe damage has been reported in key coastal districts, including Srikakulam. To manage the situation and ensure public safety, more than 1 lakh people in Andhra Pradesh alone have been moved to relief centers. Notably, in the Konaseema region alone, over 6,000 electricity poles have collapsed, resulting in a complete disruption of power supply. Heavy rainfall is occurring in the districts of Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, Koraput, and Malkangiri in Odisha; notably, Mahendragarh in Gajapati district has recorded the highest rainfall at 250 mm. As a precautionary measure, schools and colleges have been closed in 16 of the state’s 30 districts. Furthermore, the process of relocating approximately 30,000 to 48,000 people to shelters is currently underway in Odisha.
Additionally, for safety reasons, the operations of over 50 trains along the East Coast route have been cancelled, and 21 flights have been grounded. Meanwhile, personnel from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been deployed across both states and are actively engaged in rescue and relief operations.