NEW DELHI: At least six people were killed, and power supplies remained disrupted in several areas along India’s eastern coast on Thursday, a day after Cyclone Arnab battered the region with heavy rain and strong winds, officials said.
The Times of India, citing local officials, reported that the death toll had risen to nine, with fatalities caused by electrocution and the collapse of trees and houses.
Cyclone Arnab, classified as a very severe cyclonic storm by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), made landfall in Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday. It is the third-highest category on the department’s cyclone intensity scale.
(A). Depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha
The Depression (Remnant of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Arnab”) over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha moved nearly northwards with the speed of 18 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 29th October, over the same region near latitude 19.4°N and longitude 81.9°E, about 40 km north-northwest of Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh), 180 km southwest of Titlagarh (Odisha), 150 km west-southwest of Bhawanipatna (Odisha), 200 km south of Raipur (Odisha), and 310 km southwest of Sambalpur (Odisha).It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards, and weaken into a well marked low pressure area over North Chhattisgarh and adjoining Northwest Odisha around evening of today, the 29th October 2026.
During past 24 hours ending at 0830 hours IST of today, there has been widespread rainfall activity over north Andhra Pradesh, Northeast Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (21 cm or more) at a isolated places over South Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over North Odisha and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Northeast Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal.Exceptional heavy rainfall occurred over south Odisha during past 24 hours ending at 0830 IST of today. The highest rainfall of 546 mm occurred over Patrapur (dist Ganjam) followed by 503 mm over Sorada (dist Ganjam), 462 mm over G.Udaygiri (Kandhamal), 458 mm over Mahendragarh (Gajapati), 388 mm over Sanakhemundi (Ganjam), 309 mm over Chikiti (Ganjam).
The system is under continuous surveillance of the Doppler Weather Radar at Raipur and Sambalpur.
(B) Low Pressure Area over South Andaman Sea and neighborhood.
The low pressure area over south Andaman Sea & neighbourhood persisted over the same region at 0830 Hrs IST of today, the 29th October 2026. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and become a Well Marked Low Pressure Area over south Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours.
Thereafter, continuing to move west-northwestwards, it is very likely to concentrate into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Nicobar & Islands and Andaman Sea during subsequent 24 hours.
— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 29, 2026
At least 15,000 electricity poles were damaged by the storm, state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was quoted as saying in a statement. Power supplies had been restored in most districts, with Konaseema and West Godavari among the areas still affected, the statement said.
READ ALSO: Cyclone Arnab Batters India’s Southeastern Coast, 50,000 Evacuated
Naidu said advances in technology had helped the government identify areas likely to suffer the greatest impact, enabling authorities to limit the loss of life and property.
Meanwhile, a Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship carrying 20 crew members remained stranded off the coast of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday after running aground. Rough seas continued to hamper the situation, officials said.
