Cyclone Arnab’s Impact and the Multi-Level Relief Effort in Andhra Pradesh

Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh-Yanam coast in the early hours of a Wednesday, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD bulletin recorded maximum sustained winds of 125-135 km/h, gusts up to 140 km/h, and a storm surge of 1.0-1.5 m. The system moved north-northwestward, weakening to a deep depression by the following night.

Hindustan Times

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with the chief ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, assuring “all assistance” and declaring that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams were operating “on a war footing.” He announced that Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) would be dispatched to assess damage and coordinate further aid.

Deccan ChronicleThe HinduCyclone Arnab: Amit Shah speaks to four CMs, says relief operations on 'war footing' The HinduNew Indian ExpressHindustan TimesHindustan Times

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu activated disaster-response machinery across 14 districts, deploying 16 NDRF and 11 SDRF teams, along with medical units, ambulances, power-restoration crews and road-clearance squads. State disaster-management minister Suresh Pujari reported 313 response teams—including Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force units and fire-and-emergency teams—were on standby.

The Hindu

Preliminary estimates indicate extensive agricultural loss. The Hindu cited damage to about 70,900 ha of crops, with 10,450 ha inundated, bringing the total affected area to roughly 81,350 ha across the Godavari delta and adjacent districts. Hindustan Times reported that approximately 3.45 lakh farmers were impacted.

The Hindu

Infrastructure damage includes the uprooting of around 15,000 electricity poles, damage to ?180 houses (mostly in Konaseema), and the fall of over 220 trees on state roads, most cleared by the following afternoon.

The Hindu

Compensation announced by the state government comprises an ex-gratia INR5 lakh for each family of the deceased and crop-specific assistance: INR25,000 per ha for cotton and sugarcane, INR15,000 per ha for banana, and INR25,000 per ha for tomato. Naidu directed fast-tracking of compensation for other affected crops under the existing relief framework.

Hindustan Times

• Fatalities: India Times reported at least nine deaths, Hindustan Times recorded five deaths, while another Hindustan Times piece noted “no human casualties” at the time of its preliminary assessment.

Hindustan Times

• Evacuations: India Times cited more than 20,000 people evacuated; The Hindu and Hindustan Times reported over 28,000 evacuees shifted to relief shelters.

Hindustan Times

• Crop Damage Extent: India Times mentioned damage across around 2 lakh ha, whereas Hindustan Times and The Hindu provided lower, district-specific estimates (70,900 ha and 81,350 ha respectively).

The Hindu

These discrepancies highlight the evolving nature of field assessments and the need for a consolidated damage report.

The Hindu

• “Officials should restore electricity supply in all cyclone-affected areas and expedite compensation for those affected, while continuing relief and restoration work until normalcy returns,” — Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister

Hindustan Times

• “The state government will share a detailed damage assessment with the Centre after verification,” — Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister

Hindustan Times

The central and state governments will share a verified damage assessment with the Centre, after which additional financial assistance and rehabilitation measures are expected to be finalized. Ongoing monitoring of rainfall and storm-surge risks will guide further deployment of emergency teams.

The Hindu