Symbolic imageCyclone Arnab hits Andhra Pradesh, killing at least three
Cyclone Arnab made landfall in India's Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday, killing at least three people after about 180,000 had been evacuated.
Arnab crossed the coast on Wednesday, 28 October, as a "very severe cyclonic storm" with winds of up to 135 km/h, and was downgraded to "severe" further inland. Trees fell onto highways, power supplies failed, flights and trains were cancelled and some schools closed. Narendra Singh Bundela of the National Disaster Response Force said three people died and that Andhra Pradesh was worst affected. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah that at least 180 houses were destroyed and 220 trees brought down. His office told Reuters that two deaths were caused by a falling tree and electrocution.
Flood risk on the coast
India's Meteorological Department forecast a storm surge of up to 1.5m above tide level, likely to submerge low-lying areas of Andhra Pradesh. Authorities say more than 12 million people live in the cyclone's expected path.
Nepal and Sri Lanka brace
Nepal warned tourists on Tuesday to avoid high-altitude areas, fearing downpours, snowstorms and avalanches from Thursday to Saturday, and suspended trekking permits for three days, Reuters reported. Nepal is still recovering from an August glacial collapse that killed more than 1,400 people. Sri Lanka closed schools over flash flood and landslide warnings.