Cyclone ‘Arnab’ leaves five dead in India, brings rain across 15 states
Five people have died in India’s Andhra Pradesh and Odisha due to Cyclone ‘Arnab’, which developed over the Bay of Bengal. Strong gales and heavy rainfall have uprooted trees and damaged bridges and roads across various regions. The cyclone’s impact has been observed across 15 states, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. Rain continues in these areas and is forecast to persist for the next two days. Schools were closed on Thursday in 12 districts of Chhattisgarh and 16 districts of Odisha.
In Odisha, approximately 30,000 people have been evacuated to safer locations. Landslides in Gajapati district have blocked roads, reportedly cutting off road connectivity to six villages. Winds whipped at speeds of 125 to 135 km/h as the cyclone struck the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday night.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the cyclone has weakened into a deep depression. Warnings for heavy rain, lightning, and strong winds have been issued for several districts in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, and Uttarakhand. Due to adverse weather conditions, helicopter services in Uttarakhand’s Kedarnath region have also been suspended.
Meanwhile, in Nepal, the Meteorological Forecasting Division has appealed for vigilance, stating that the effects of Cyclone ‘Arnab’ will be felt starting today.
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