Very severe cyclonic storm Arnab began making landfall along the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday, 28 October, with the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) stating that the crossing process was ongoing and expected to be fully complete by afternoon. As of Wednesday morning, the storm's centre was located approximately 30 km from Narsapuram. No fatalities have been reported so far, though significant infrastructure and crop damage has been recorded across multiple coastal districts.

Ground Situation Across Affected Districts

Heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds lashed the undivided districts of Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, and Krishna throughout the morning. Preliminary reports indicate the Godavari districts bore the brunt of the storm's impact. Low-lying areas in Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district were inundated, and fallen trees disrupted electricity supply across several localities. Uprooted trees and electric poles were reported widely, alongside preliminary crop damage assessments from affected areas.

Government Response and Relief Operations

APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain urged residents to remain on alert, noting that the landfall process had been ongoing for approximately two hours. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held an extensive teleconference involving 32,000 personnel, ranging from District Collectors down to field-level staff, to assess the cyclone's impact and coordinate relief operations. He also convened a special review meeting with senior officials from the departments of Electricity, Irrigation, Roads and Buildings (R&B), Agriculture, Urban Development, and Panchayat Raj.

Chief Minister Naidu's Key Directives

Chief Minister Naidu directed officials to clear trees fallen on roads within two hours and to remove obstructions on national highways in real time. Power restoration in affected areas was ordered as soon as high-velocity winds subside. He instructed that NDRF and SDRF teams be kept on standby, and that cyclone shelters maintain adequate supplies of food, drinking water, and medical facilities without interruption.

Naidu also directed officials to prepare preliminary estimates of crop damage and to implement measures protecting horticultural crops and preventing breaches in embankments of ponds and canals. He instructed that the state government's response be formally communicated to the Central government. The Chief Minister credited advance preparedness for the absence of casualties, saying: 'It is due to the proactive measures taken by the administrative machinery that we have been able to prevent any loss of life. Efforts must be made to minimise property damage as much as possible.'

He also highlighted the 'Mana Mitra' public grievance system, urging officials to ensure it is fully utilised so cyclone-affected residents can directly flag concerns to the government.

What Happens Next

The storm is expected to complete its crossing of the Andhra Pradesh coast by Wednesday afternoon, after which wind speeds should progressively ease, allowing power restoration and road clearance to accelerate. Authorities are continuing to monitor embankment integrity across the Godavari basin, where inundation risk remains elevated. Damage assessment teams are expected to submit preliminary crop-loss reports shortly after the storm passes, which will inform any central relief request.