Cyclone Arnab has made landfall along the Yanam coast in Puducherry, India, crossing the shore earlier than anticipated due to a surge in its forward momentum. The approaching severe weather system has unleashed torrential rainfall and powerful gusty winds across eastern regions of India, disrupting normal daily activities and prompting emergency protocols.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the storm's outer spiral bands began penetrating the landmass in the early hours of Wednesday. The core of the cyclone is traversing the coastal belt nestled between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. Sustained heavy downpours and fierce gale-force winds continue to batter the coastline as authorities monitor the trajectory of the storm closely.
In anticipation of the severe impact, the government of Andhra Pradesh implemented extensive pre-disaster preparations. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu stated that nearly 2,199 cyclone relief shelters have been fully equipped and readied across the state to accommodate displaced individuals. A comprehensive evacuation strategy was enforced to safeguard civilians, prioritizing the elderly, children, individuals with disabilities, and pregnant women.
As part of these targeted safety measures, approximately 2,360 expectant mothers from vulnerable zones were safely relocated to hospitals and healthcare centers ahead of the landfall to ensure uninterrupted medical care during the emergency. Local administration and disaster response teams remain on high alert along the coastline, prepared to tackle potential flooding in low-lying areas and execute rapid rescue operations as the storm system gradually weakens.
