Cyclone Arnab: Central teams to arrive today to assess damage in Andhra Pradesh

Cyclone 'Arnab' has caused widespread devastation in Odisha, with over 55,000 people evacuated and extensive damage reported across nine districts. The Odisha Government has deployed over 300 rescue teams from various disaster response agencies to assist in flood-hit regions of Ganjam and seven other districts. In Andhra Pradesh, the cyclone has resulted in an estimated loss of ₹4,600 crore, according to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas in the Krishna and Godavari regions.

Rail services on the Howrah-Chennai route were disrupted, with 36 trains canceled, 30 diverted, and 8 regulated or rescheduled to ensure passenger safety. Cyclone 'Arnab' has uprooted 902 trees across 10 zones in GVMC, with 1,057 trees having their branches cleared and removal operations still pending for 135 trees. GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg stated that removal efforts were being accelerated, targeting completion by Friday.

Additional relief and restoration operations are being carried out using 45 earthmovers, tipper vehicles, and extra sanitation workers. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed deep concern over the cyclone's impact on Andhra Pradesh and the heavy rainfall and flooding in Odisha, urging swift relief and rehabilitation for affected families.