Six killed in cyclone off India’s eastern coast

BHUBANESWAR: At least six people were killed and power supply in several areas along India’s eastern coast remained disrupted on Thursday, one day after Cyclone Arnab barrelled through the region, bringing heavy rain and gusty winds, officials said.

The Times of India newspaper, citing local officials, put the death toll at nine, caused by electrocution as well as tree and house collapses.

The official death toll was six, an Andhra Pradesh state government official said.

Cyclone Arnab, classified by the India Meteorological Department as a very severe cyclonic storm, the third-highest category on its scale, made landfall in Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday.

At least 15,000 electricity poles were damaged by the cyclone, state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was quoted as saying in a statement.

Power supply had been restored in most districts except for Konaseem and West Godavari, the statement said.

(A). Depression over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha The Depression (Remnant of Very Severe Cyclonic Storm “Arnab”) over south Chhattisgarh and adjoining south Odisha moved nearly northwards with the speed of 18 kmph during past 6 hours, and lay centered at 0830 hrs IST of today, the 29th October, over the same region near latitude 19.4°N and longitude 81.9°E, about 40 km north-northwest of Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh), 180 km southwest of Titlagarh (Odisha), 150 km west-southwest of Bhawanipatna (Odisha), 200 km south of Raipur (Odisha), and 310 km southwest of Sambalpur (Odisha). It is very likely to continue to move nearly northwards, and weaken into a well marked low pressure area over North Chhattisgarh and adjoining Northwest Odisha around evening of today, the 29th October 2026. During past 24 hours ending at 0830 hours IST of today, there has been widespread rainfall activity over north Andhra Pradesh, Northeast Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rainfall (21 cm or more) at a isolated places over South Odisha and North Andhra Pradesh, heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over North Odisha and heavy rainfall at isolated places over Northeast Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Gangetic West Bengal. Exceptional heavy rainfall occurred over south Odisha during past 24 hours ending at 0830 IST of today. The highest rainfall of 546 mm occurred over Patrapur (dist Ganjam) followed by 503 mm over Sorada (dist Ganjam), 462 mm over G.Udaygiri (Kandhamal), 458 mm over Mahendragarh (Gajapati), 388 mm over Sanakhemundi (Ganjam), 309 mm over Chikiti (Ganjam). The system is under continuous surveillance of the Doppler Weather Radar at Raipur and Sambalpur. (B) Low Pressure Area over South Andaman Sea and neighborhood. The low pressure area over south Andaman Sea & neighbourhood persisted over the same region at 0830 Hrs IST of today, the 29th October 2026. It is very likely to move west-northwestwards and become a Well Marked Low Pressure Area over south Andaman Sea and adjoining Andaman & Nicobar Islands during next 24 hours. Thereafter, continuing to move west-northwestwards, it is very likely to concentrate into a depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining Andaman Nicobar & Islands and Andaman Sea during subsequent 24 hours.

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 29, 2026

Advances in technology enabled the government to identify the areas likely to face the greatest impact and limit loss of life and property, Naidu said.

A Marshall Island-flagged cargo vessel, with 20 crew members on board, that was grounded off the coast of Andhra Pradesh remained stalled on Thursday because of rough seas, officials said.

More than 180,000 people had been evacuated in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha ahead of the cyclone’s arrival.

Some schools were closed and some train and flight services cancelled.

Arnab formed over the Bay of Bengal, a major region for tropical cyclones that has spawned deadly storms on India’s east coast.