Arnab intensifies; Heavy rain, strong winds to hit several areas

Daily Mirror reports that Cyclone Arnab brought heavy rain and gusty winds to India’s eastern coast on Wednesday, leaving at least six people dead and power disrupted in several areas on Thursday. Ada Derana reports that more than 180,000 people were evacuated as the cyclone hit the coast.

Lankadeepa and WhatNews report that the storm had intensified to a very severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal. Lankadeepa places it early on October 27 about 890 kilometres northeast of Kankesanthurai. Sri Lanka Mirror reports that it was making landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, while Newsfirst reports that it entered India.

Hiru News reports that Arnab later weakened into a deep depression and that warnings for sea areas in the deep Bay of Bengal were lifted. Ada Derana and Hiru News (தமிழ்) also report that warnings for fishing and naval activity were withdrawn.

Sri Lanka’s Meteorology Department said the storm’s influence on the country’s weather was gradually weakening, according to Newswire, Newsfirst, Sri Lanka Mirror and Ada Derana. Newsfirst reports that the decrease was expected from October 28. Ada Derana and Newswire forecast showers and strong winds in several areas; Sri Lanka Mirror reports expected winds of up to 50 kilometres per hour.