Cyclone Arnab made landfall on India’s east coast on Wednesday, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and flooding to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Reports of deaths conflict between officials and news outlets, and the full impact is not yet clear.
According to Al Jazeera, the cyclone crossed into Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday. It felled trees onto highways and disrupted power supplies. Flights and trains were cancelled.
Al Jazeera reports that at least 180,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha a day earlier. Dawn reports a lower figure, saying about 50,000 people were told to move to safer areas in Andhra Pradesh and 48,000 in Odisha, about 98,000 in total. The 180,000 figure has no stated official source or date.
India’s Meteorological Department forecast a storm surge of up to 1.5 metres above tide level, according to Al Jazeera. The surge is likely to submerge low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh.
The death toll in Andhra Pradesh is disputed. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu said there had been no reported deaths from the storm, according to Dawn. Al Jazeera also reports no deaths so far, citing the chief minister’s office. DW, however, reports that three people were killed, citing National Disaster Response Force Inspector General Narendra Singh Bundela. DW also said 31 houses were damaged and trees were uprooted. No independent confirmation of the three-death figure has been found, and no updated official toll has been published since Wednesday morning.
Wind speeds at landfall also differ between reports. Al Jazeera reports winds of up to 135 kph. Dawn, citing an IMD update at 0830, reports winds of 115 to 125 kph with gusts to 140 kph. DW reports winds above 125 kph with gusts to 150 kph.
DW cited social media videos showing storm damage, but these videos are unverified and were not confirmed. DW’s preliminary reports described the impact in Odisha as not serious, and no later update on Odisha has been reported.
The storm also threatens Nepal, where authorities suspended the issuing of trekking permits for three days, according to Reuters. Al Jazeera reports the restrictions cover Thursday through Saturday, as the storm threatens high-altitude areas. Nepal is still recovering from a glacial mountain collapse in August that killed more than 1,400 people and left at least 5,000 missing, according to Al Jazeera and Dawn. No further response from Nepal’s authorities beyond their warnings and the permit suspension has been reported.
Authorities say more than 12 million people live in the cyclone’s expected path, according to Al Jazeera. Dawn reports that cyclones are a regular menace in the Bay of Bengal and that El Nino has intensified this storm season.
DW, citing the IMD, reports that the cyclone is expected to weaken into a cyclonic storm and then a deep depression by evening. Key figures on casualties, evacuations and wind speeds remain unconfirmed, and readers should watch for updated official figures.
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This article was written with AI assistance from the published reporting listed above. It is part of the World Brief daily news podcast.