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Vol. 3 · No. 301 Every side. Side by side. Wednesday, October 28, 2026
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Cyclone Arnab begins landfall on India's Andhra coast; tens of thousands moved

India's weather office said Cyclone Arnab began crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast early Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm, with tens of thousands evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, according to The Hindu, Hindustan Times and Channel NewsAsia.

By AI reporterPRESSElena Marsh · WhatsNewPaper Desk

Wire reporting: (Reuters, via CNA), (AFP, via Dawn)

Cyclone Arnab began crossing India's Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday as a very severe cyclonic storm, according to live reporting from The Hindu and Hindustan Times2,6.

The Hindu said the landfall process started near Narsapur in West Godavari district around 1:30 a.m., while a Hindustan Times report put the start around 1:20 a.m.2,6. IMD specialists told The Hindu it was too early to name the exact landfall point2.

SCMP, citing authorities, said nearly 100,000 people were evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha1. Channel NewsAsia, carrying Reuters, put the two-state total above 180,000 and said no deaths had been reported3. Al Jazeera's earlier account, written before landfall, cited an Andhra official saying about 50,000 people had been moved by Monday night of an estimated 400,000 needing evacuation5.

Hindustan Times said Andhra Pradesh had arranged 2,131 cyclone shelters across 20 districts and that Odisha had moved more than 30,000 people toward a 48,000 target6. Dawn and IOL, carrying AFP, reported Indian media figures of about 50,000 told to move in Andhra Pradesh and 48,000 in Odisha before landfall8,9.

India's civil aviation ministry, as reported by Times of India, suspended operations at Visakhapatnam from the afternoon of Oct. 27 and at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry after 7 p.m.7. Hindustan Times said dozens of trains were cancelled on the South Coast, East Coast and South Eastern railways6.

Channel NewsAsia, carrying Reuters, said IMD described the cyclone as practically stationary, with the edge over land and the centre still over the Bay of Bengal, and forecast winds of 115-125 km/h with gusts to 140 km/h and a 1-1.5 meter storm surge3. Times of India cited a ministry note with IMD winds of 125-135 kmph and gusts to 150 kmph7.

High waves reached coastal roads in north Chennai and Tiruvallur, The Hindu said2. Hindustan Times reported houses damaged and trees uprooted in parts of Andhra Pradesh6. Neighbouring Nepal and Sri Lanka had issued weather warnings, according to AFP copy carried by Dawn and IOL8,9.

How long the landfall process lasts, the final wind at the coast, and a reconciled casualty and damage tally remain unknown2,3,6.

Sources

  1. SCMP100,000 evacuated in India as Cyclone Arnab makes landfall on southeast coast
  2. The HinduCyclone Arnab 'practically stationary,' landfall process to continue for 2-3 hours, says IMD | LIVE
  3. (Reuters, via CNA)Cyclone Arnab stalls close to India's east coast
  4. ReutersCyclone Arnab stalls close to India's east coast
  5. (AFP, via Dawn)India orders evacuations in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha as Cyclone Arnab loomsAlso (AFP, via IOL)
  1. Al JazeeraIndia evacuates tens of thousands as ‘very severe' Cyclone Arnab nears
  2. Hindustan TimesCyclone Arnab landfall LIVE: Process still on, several houses damaged, trees uprooted in parts of Andhra
  3. Times of IndiaAviation ministry suspends ops at three Andhra airports as Cyclone Arnab intensifies

Read the original at SCMP ↗

How it’s being reported

7 sources

First reported by Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

SCMPThe HinduAl JazeeraHindustan TimesTimes of IndiaCNA

Where they agree

  • Arnab is a very severe cyclonic storm affecting Andhra Pradesh, with Odisha also preparing.
  • Landfall began in the early hours of Wednesday along the Andhra coast.
  • Air and rail services were disrupted and shelters were opened.

Where they differ

How many people were evacuated

Wind speed at landfall

Side by side

Each outlet's article broken down by our newsroom, in our own words. To read what they wrote, use the button under each one.

SCMPSCMP

100,000 evacuated in India as Cyclone Arnab makes landfall on southeast coast

Landfall underway and a combined evacuation figure near 100,000.

SCMP reports nearly 100,000 people were evacuated in two states as Arnab made landfall Wednesday on India's southeastern coast.

Leaves out Airport suspensions and IMD's later 'practically stationary' update.

Landfall underway and a combined evacuation figure near 100,000.

What it reports

  • Authorities said nearly 100,000 people left homes in two states as the storm came ashore Wednesday.
  • Winds and heavy rain were reported along the southeastern coast.

Leaves out Airport suspensions and IMD's later 'practically stationary' update.

Read the original at SCMP Read the full article at SCMP
The HinduThe Hindu

Cyclone Arnab 'practically stationary,' landfall process to continue for 2-3 hours, says IMD | LIVE

Timing near Narsapur and high waves on north Chennai coastal roads.

The Hindu live page says landfall began near Narsapur around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday and that IMD had not yet pinned an exact landfall point.

Leaves out Combined two-state evacuation totals used by SCMP and CNA.

Timing near Narsapur and high waves on north Chennai coastal roads.

What it reports

  • Experts said it was too early to name the exact landfall location.
  • High waves reached land on Ennore Expressway and other coastal roads in north Chennai and Tiruvallur.

Leaves out Combined two-state evacuation totals used by SCMP and CNA.

Read the original at The Hindu Read the full article at The Hindu
Al JazeeraAl Jazeera

India evacuates tens of thousands as ‘very severe' Cyclone Arnab nears

Pre-landfall evacuation need of hundreds of thousands.

Earlier Al Jazeera report, before landfall, on evacuations as Arnab approached the east coast.

Leaves out Wednesday landfall timing.

Pre-landfall evacuation need of hundreds of thousands.

What it reports

  • The piece was written as the storm neared, not after landfall.
  • It cited an Andhra official saying about 50,000 people had been moved by Monday night of an estimated 400,000 needing evacuation.

Leaves out Wednesday landfall timing.

Read the original at Al Jazeera Read the full article at Al Jazeera
Hindustan TimesHindustan Times

Cyclone Arnab landfall LIVE: Process still on, several houses damaged, trees uprooted in parts of Andhra

Landfall still underway and damage to houses and trees in Andhra Pradesh.

said the process had not finished. — Hindustan Times

Hindustan Times says landfall began in the early hours of Wednesday and that IMD at 5:30 a.m. said the process had not finished.

Leaves out Sri Lanka and Nepal warnings highlighted by Dawn.

Landfall still underway and damage to houses and trees in Andhra Pradesh.

What it reports

  • A companion Hindustan Times report said landfall along the Andhra coast was around 1:20 a.m. Wednesday.
  • Andhra Pradesh had arranged 2,131 cyclone shelters and placed medical teams on standby.
  • Odisha officials said more than 30,000 people had been moved toward a 48,000 target.
  • Dozens of trains were cancelled and flights were disrupted at Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam.

Leaves out Sri Lanka and Nepal warnings highlighted by Dawn.

Read the original at Hindustan Times Read the full article at Hindustan Times
Times of IndiaTimes of India

Aviation ministry suspends ops at three Andhra airports as Cyclone Arnab intensifies

Airport closures and airline cancellations.

Times of India, citing a civil aviation ministry/PIB statement, reports suspensions at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports.

Leaves out Onshore landfall progress.

Airport closures and airline cancellations.

What it reports

  • The ministry said Visakhapatnam operations were suspended from the afternoon of Oct. 27.
  • Vijayawada and Rajahmundry flights were suspended after 7 p.m. the same day.
  • IMD figures in the ministry note included winds of 125-135 kmph and gusts up to 150 kmph.

Leaves out Onshore landfall progress.

Read the original at Times of India Read the full article at Times of India