Cyclone Arnab hits India's Andhra Pradesh state as tens of thousands evacuate

Cyclone Arnab crossed India’s Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday, a day after officials ordered tens of thousands to evacuate from low-lying coastal areas. The storm weakened slightly before landfall but still brought heavy to very heavy rainfall across several coastal districts, causing widespread disruption. By late Wednesday morning, wind speeds reached up to 135 kph (84 mph), and meteorological officials said it was expected to weaken further as it moved inland later in the day. Authorities reported no immediate casualties, though some damage was observed. The India Meteorological Department said heavy rain and strong winds would continue along the cyclone’s influence in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and parts of Odisha. In Andhra Pradesh alone, at least 89,000 people had been evacuated, with over 2,000 cyclone shelters set up across 20 districts, and nearly 1,100 medical teams deployed. Plans in neighboring Odisha included evacuating about 48,000 people.