Kathmandu. Cyclone Arnab has caused huge damage in the eastern coastal region of India. According to the Indian media, three people died in Andhra Pradesh and 31 houses were damaged due to the cyclone. It has also affected Odisha and Jharkhand.
On Wednesday morning, Cyclone Arnab entered the coastal area between Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh and Yanam area in Puducherry. Due to the cyclone, life has been affected in coastal areas and hundreds of trees and electricity poles have fallen.
According to Inspector General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Narendra Singh Bundela, Andhra Pradesh has been the worst affected. The northern part of Andhra Pradesh and the southern part of Odisha are the most affected. Rescue and disaster management teams have been put on standby in both the states.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the maximum wind speed reached 125 to 135 km per hour as the cyclone made landfall. By 8:30 am on Wednesday, it had weakened to a severe cyclonic storm. It is expected to weaken further in the future.
The Odisha government has shifted more than 30,000 people to safer places, keeping in mind the possible impact of the cyclone. Residents of vulnerable slums have been shifted to relief camps on high alert in the southern region of the state.
Special vigilance has been increased in Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur districts. Residents of low-lying areas and landslide-prone areas have been moved to safer places, officials said.
The IMD has issued a red alert warning of heavy to very heavy rains in Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati and Kalahandi districts. Wind gusts of 60 to 80 kilometers per hour are expected in those areas.
Due to continuous rains, the risk of landslides has also increased in the hilly areas.
The impact of the cyclone has also been seen in Jharkhand. It has been raining in various districts including the capital Ranchi since Wednesday morning. The Meteorological Department has warned of heavy rain in Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, Gumla, Lohardaga, Bokaro, Saraikela-Kharsawan and East and West Singhbhum districts.
It is estimated that the temperature of Jharkhand may drop by three to four degrees Celsius due to rain and cold winds. As a precautionary measure, classes in schools up to class 12 have been suspended for October 28 and 29 in Ranchi and Lohardaga districts.
Air flights from Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports have also been affected due to the cyclone. Various airlines have canceled some flights and some flights have been delayed.
India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has asked passengers to check their flight status before heading to the airport. Airlines have been instructed to provide information regarding re-booking and ticket refunds in case of flight cancellations or delays.
Although the cyclone has weakened, rescue teams and related agencies have been kept on high alert as the risk of heavy rains and strong winds remains in the affected areas of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Jharkhand.