Cyclone Arnab struck India’s eastern coast, killing at least seven people in Andhra Pradesh and disrupting electricity in hundreds of villages as repair crews worked to restore service, officials said by Friday, October 30.
The storm crossed the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast early Wednesday, October 28, bringing heavy rain and destructive winds. It was classified as a very severe cyclone before weakening inland. Early reports gave different death tolls.
Reuters reported at least six deaths on Thursday, citing a state official. The Times of India reported a toll of nine. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said on Thursday that seven people had died.
Power damage remained a major concern. The state’s energy minister reported that electricity was still out in nearly 400 villages. In Konaseema district, about 8,000 power poles were uprooted, according to Naidu.
The energy minister said about 3,700 poles were down in West Godavari. Some electricity service had returned to most districts by Thursday. Outages continued in Konaseema and West Godavari.
Restoration teams were repairing lines and equipment. Additional electricity workers were brought in to speed up the work. Heavy rain also flooded villages in neighbouring Odisha.
Authorities there prepared to evacuate stranded residents by air. State officials were continuing to assess the storm’s damage as relief and repairs proceeded.