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Cyclone kills three and forces more than 180,000 people to evacuate — Andhra Pradesh, India — October 28

Cyclone Arnab, a very severe cyclonic storm, slammed into India's Andhra Pradesh coast near Narsapur in the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, 2026, with sustained winds of 125 to 135 kilometres an hour and gusts up to 150. At least three people were killed — officials said two of the deaths were caused by a falling tree and by electrocution — as heavy rain and wind destroyed at least 180 houses, brought down about 220 trees and knocked out power across several areas, according to the National Disaster Response Force and the Andhra Pradesh government. More than 180,000 people had been evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha before the storm arrived; schools were closed, trains and flights were cancelled, and operations at three Andhra Pradesh airports were suspended. The storm's centre moved fully inland during the morning and the cyclone weakened as it tracked north-north-west, but officials warned the early figures are provisional while damage assessments continue and heavy rain spreads inland. We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.

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Date
October 28, 2026
Location
Landfall near Narsapur, West Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, India; Odisha also affected
Victims
At least 3 people killed; more than 180 houses destroyed and about 220 trees brought down; power cut across several areas; more than 180,000 people evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha before landfall
Suspect
None — natural disaster (very severe cyclonic storm, winds 125–135 km/h gusting to 150 km/h)
Stage
BREAKING

Last updated:

Evidence

Next expected update: Final damage and casualty assessment; relief and power restoration

Timeline

  1. NEW BREAKING

    Update #8 — Prime Minister calls Chief Minister as Andhra Pradesh formally requests central assistance

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday, November 4, to ask about the damage caused by Cyclone Arnab and Cyclone Murasu, which struck the state within a single week. The Prime Minister praised the state government's relief operations, but no central money was announced on the call. Chief Minister Naidu has written to Home Minister Amit Shah formally requesting immediate financial assistance from the central government, and a decision is still awaited. The state says Arnab alone caused losses of about 4,563 crore rupees, and it has released preliminary figures for Murasu, the second storm: losses of 343.95 crore rupees across eight government departments, with crops damaged over 50,473 hectares in 465 villages across seven districts, affecting 69,828 farmers. Bapatla, Krishna and Guntur recorded the most severe crop damage. We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.

  2. BREAKING

    Update #7 — Cyclone Murasu toll rises to two — losses put at Rs 344 crore

    At least two people have now been killed in Cyclone Murasu-related incidents in Andhra Pradesh, the state's disaster management authority said on Tuesday, November 3 — the first deaths reported for Murasu, which made landfall early Tuesday between Nellore and Narasapur, near Ongole. APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain said 12,230 people remain in cyclone shelters, preliminary losses are put at at least Rs 344 crore, and crops have been affected across 52,459 hectares in 15 districts, with Krishna, Bapatla and Nandyal among the worst hit. About 312 houses were affected and around 2,750 electricity poles damaged. These figures replace the earlier state estimate given this morning of 30,661 hectares and 10,805 people evacuated. We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.

  3. BREAKING

    Update #6 — First official damage assessment: crops hit across 30,661 hectares, 10,805 people in relief centres

    The Andhra Pradesh government has published its first preliminary damage assessment after Cyclone Murasu's landfall. Crops were damaged across 30,661 hectares in 15 districts, with 132 mandals affected — Krishna, Bapatla and Nandyal districts were the worst hit. A total of 10,805 people were evacuated to 171 relief centres, and peak winds of 107 km/h were recorded at Dornala. The storm is weakening and moving north-northwest. There are still no deaths or injuries reported from Murasu; the seven deaths in this case were from Cyclone Arnab. The figures are preliminary and may change after field verification.
    We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.

  4. BREAKING

    Update #5 — Cyclone Murasu's landfall is complete — no deaths or injuries reported

    Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu has crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast. The landfall, which began early on Tuesday, November 3, was completed between 03:30 and 05:30 IST near Ongole, with winds of 100 to 110 km/h gusting to 120 km/h. The Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority says no deaths and no injuries have been reported so far; the damage reported is trees and electric poles uprooted, temporary structures collapsed in Ongole, thatched houses damaged at Kothapatnam, and waterlogged roads in Bapatla and Vijayawada, with disaster teams clearing fallen trees. About 30,000 people were targeted for evacuation ahead of the storm. The India Meteorological Department expects Murasu to weaken to a cyclonic storm by noon on Tuesday and to a deep depression by midnight as it moves north-northwest. The death toll from the earlier Cyclone Arnab in this case remains seven. We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.

  5. BREAKING

    Update #4 — Cyclone Murasu landfall begins near Ongole

    Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu began making landfall over the south Andhra Pradesh coast at about 1:00 a.m. local time on Tuesday, November 3, the India Meteorological Department said. By about 5:08 a.m. most of the storm's wall cloud had moved onto land and its eye was entering the coast close to Ongole, with winds of 100-110 km/h gusting to 120 km/h and a storm surge of 1.0-1.5 metres expected in low-lying areas. About 2,000 people were evacuated on Monday, with officials working toward about 30,000. No deaths or damage toll from Murasu had been confirmed in the early landfall reports. The earlier Cyclone Arnab death toll stands at seven. (Sources: India Meteorological Department via Reuters and Indian news reports, November 3.) We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.

  6. BREAKING

    Update #3 — Second cyclone Murasu approaching — evacuations under way

    A second storm, Cyclone Murasu, has strengthened into a Severe Cyclonic Storm and is approaching the Andhra Pradesh coast. India's weather office expects it to make landfall overnight November 2 to 3, between Nellore and Narsapur, close to Ongole, with winds of 100 to 110 km/h gusting to 120 km/h and a storm surge of 1 to 1.5 metres. About 2,000 people had been evacuated by Monday, November 2, with about 30,000 evacuations planned in total. Schools were closed in Chennai and Palnadu, and disaster-response teams have been deployed. The death toll from Cyclone Arnab remains 7. We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.

  7. BREAKING

    Update #2 — Death toll confirmed at seven — preliminary damage put at ₹4,600 crore

    Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has confirmed that seven people died in Cyclone Arnab — up from the three deaths reported when the storm made landfall on October 28 — despite the precautionary evacuation of more than 180,000 people. Naidu said the state has submitted a preliminary damage assessment of ₹4,600 crore to the Centre (the national government), and announced compensation of ₹5 lakh for each bereaved family. More than 15,000 electricity poles were uprooted across the affected districts, with Konaseema and West Godavari bearing the brunt; officials aim to restore power fully by Saturday evening, and central assessment teams were due in the state on Friday, October 30. The figures remain preliminary while district officials complete the final assessment. We are following this case and will update it again as soon as new information comes.
  8. CORRECTION What changed: Case name updated

    BREAKING

    Update #1 — Correction: Case name updated

    Correction: Case name updated

    Case name updated

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