Cyclone Arnab kills five as it batters north Andhra Pradesh

Cyclone Arnab struck northern coastal Andhra Pradesh with extreme fury, leaving a trail of destruction across multiple districts on Friday. The system unleashed winds gusting up to 150 kilometres per hour, accompanied by relentless heavy rainfall that prompted emergency responses across the region.

The toll on agriculture has been substantial, with crops damaged across approximately 80,500 hectares, impacting farmers across affected areas. Beyond crop losses, the high-velocity winds wreaked havoc on physical infrastructure, with over 1,000 trees uprooted in the cyclone's path. Power outages and communication disruptions compounded relief and rescue efforts in several localities.

State authorities activated emergency protocols as the cyclone made landfall, with disaster management teams positioned across vulnerable areas. The coastal districts bore the brunt of the system's intensity, though damage reports continued to flow in from inland areas as well. Officials have initiated damage assessment surveys to determine the full extent of losses and coordinate relief distribution to affected communities.

The India Meteorological Department had issued severe weather warnings in advance, enabling authorities to evacuate vulnerable populations from low-lying coastal regions. As the cyclone moves inland, rainfall is expected to gradually diminish, though residents have been cautioned to remain vigilant for waterlogging and associated hazards in the coming hours.