Arnab Weakens After Andhra Landfall While Bangladesh Keeps Coastal Precautions in Place

Cyclone Arnab has moved onto the Indian mainland after striking the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coastline, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain to the region while Bangladesh continues to treat the storm as a maritime hazard requiring caution rather than a direct national emergency. The very severe cyclonic storm completed its landfall process in the early hours of Wednesday, packing sustained winds of roughly 125 to 135 kilometres per hour with gusts that reached about 150 kilometres per hour at peak intensity. Once over land the system began losing strength, a predictable pattern as the cyclone was cut off from the warm ocean waters that had fuelled its growth over the Bay of Bengal.

In India, authorities had ordered large-scale evacuations of low-lying coastal communities in the days before the storm arrived. Tens of thousands of people were moved to safer shelters, train services along the affected coastal corridor were cancelled or diverted, and emergency teams stood ready for flooding, fallen trees and damage to power lines. Early reports after landfall described torrential rainfall in several districts of Andhra Pradesh, with some locations recording more than 250 millimetres in a short period. The India Meteorological Department indicated that Arnab would continue to weaken as it moved inland, downgrading from a very severe cyclonic storm to a severe cyclonic storm and then further as it progressed.

Bangladesh, by contrast, faced no expectation of a direct hit. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department kept the maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Mongla and Payra under local cautionary signal number 3. The advisory reflected the risk of rough seas and strong winds in the North Bay even though the storm's centre remained hundreds of kilometres away. Fishing boats and trawlers were instructed to remain close to the coast and avoid deep-water operations until further notice. Officials emphasised that the primary danger for Bangladesh lay in maritime accidents or disruption to fishing livelihoods rather than widespread onshore destruction.

Weather forecasts for the country called for rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty winds at scattered places in the Khulna, Barishal and Chattogram divisions over the next day or so. Other regions were expected to stay mostly dry, with only intermittent cloud cover. Daytime temperatures were projected to fall slightly in some areas while night-time readings held steady. No major casualties or significant structural damage had been reported inside Bangladesh linked to the system, and disaster-management authorities maintained a monitoring posture rather than activating full-scale evacuation plans.

The cyclone's track had been followed closely for nearly a week. It formed as a deep depression, intensified steadily while moving west-northwestward, and reached very severe cyclonic storm strength before curving toward the Indian coast. Bangladesh named the system Arnab under the regional rotation used by countries bordering the Bay of Bengal. Its westward trajectory meant the heaviest impacts fell on India, sparing Bangladesh the kind of catastrophic surge and wind damage the country has experienced from cyclones that track north or northeast toward its delta.

Even so, coastal communities and port operators remained vigilant. Rough seas can still endanger small craft, and residual moisture from the storm's outer bands can produce localised heavy showers capable of causing waterlogging in poorly drained areas. Shipping schedules and fishing activity were expected to resume gradually once the meteorological department confirmed that seas had calmed and the warning signal could be lowered. Emergency responders in the coastal districts kept equipment and personnel ready for any isolated incidents of flooding or fallen trees.

The episode highlights the value of continuous satellite and radar tracking in the Bay of Bengal, where storms can intensify rapidly and change direction. For Bangladesh, the response centred on clear public communication, restricted maritime movement, and readiness without unnecessary panic. As Arnab continues to weaken over India, attention in Dhaka and the coastal districts will shift toward confirming that residual effects remain limited and that normal activities can safely resume. The storm's passage serves as a reminder that even cyclones that miss Bangladesh directly can still demand coordinated precautions across ports, fishing fleets and vulnerable shoreline communities.