Cyclone ‘Arnab’: Flash flood alert for several southern Odisha districts amid heavy rain

Three people were killed and thousands of homes evacuated after Cyclone Arnab slammed into eastern India's eastern coast on Wednesday. The storm, classified as very severe, made landfall in Andhra Pradesh early Wednesday before moving fully inland, bringing heavy rain, strong winds, and significant destruction. Andhra Pradesh has been the hardest hit, with the National Disaster Response Force reporting three fatalities – two resulting from a tree falling and electrocution.

At least 180 houses were destroyed, along with 220 trees and disrupted power supplies across several regions. Neighboring Odisha state fared less badly, though wind speeds are expected to diminish as the cyclone moves inland. Over 180,000 residents in both Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have been evacuated prior to the cyclone's arrival.

Schools were closed, and flights and train services were cancelled along the eastern coast. Authorities from various NDRF and state teams are working to clear debris and repair damage. Nepalese authorities have also suspended trekking permits in high mountain regions due to the threat of rain and blizzards from the cyclone, which could bring torrential downpours, snowstorms, and avalanches to the Himalayan area from Thursday to Saturday.