Cyclone Arnab Makes Landfall in Andhra Pradesh, Disrupting Power and Transport

A severe tropical cyclone named Cyclone Arnab began making landfall along the eastern coast of India in Andhra Pradesh during the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, 2026. The severe weather system brought high-speed winds and heavy rainfall that uprooted trees and disrupted power supplies across affected districts, according to local authorities.

Ahead of the storm's arrival, authorities evacuated thousands of people along the eastern coast. Select train and flight services were also cancelled as a precautionary measure.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported that wind speeds over the landfall area were forecast to reach between 125 and 135 kilometres per hour, with gusts up to 150 kilometres per hour, before gradually decreasing over subsequent hours. The IMD also warned that a storm surge of 1.5 to 2.5 metres above normal tide levels was very likely to inundate low-lying areas of the state.

The office of the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister stated that no loss of life had been reported so far, though trees were uprooted in several locations and local infrastructure, including power supply lines, faced disruptions.

Cyclone Arnab originated from the Bay of Bengal, a basin known for tropical storms affecting India's east coast. Historically, the region has faced severe weather events, including the October 1999 super cyclone in Odisha, which remains one of the country's deadliest natural disasters.

"Natural disasters and severe weather events present immediate operational and supply chain challenges for businesses operating in coastal regions. While proactive evacuations and precautionary suspensions of transport services help minimize loss of life, infrastructure disruptions such as power outages can temporarily impact local commerce and regional business continuity. Companies and regional enterprises must build robust disaster management and operational resilience frameworks to handle severe weather risks effectively." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes