Quoting Reuters, as of Wednesday afternoon there had been no reports of casualties in either area. However, the storm disrupted power supplies, forced schools to close, and caused a number of train and flight services to be cancelled.

The Indian Meteorological Department has categorized Arnab as a very severe cyclone. Wind speeds were estimated at 125–135 kilometers per hour, with gusts of up to 150 kilometers per hour.

Apart from strong winds, storm waves as high as 1 to 1.5 meters above normal tide have the potential to flood low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh. Authorities also warned of the risk of damage to agricultural land, thatched-roofed houses and communications networks.

Nagi, a resident of Kakinada District, Andhra Pradesh, described the community's anxiety when water began to threaten settlements.

"No one knows whose house will be flooded next, or whose house will be submerged," he told Reuters.

He added that fallen trees and damaged houses meant that residents' belongings, including books, were also destroyed.

The Indian government previously banned fishermen from fishing along the affected coast. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has temporarily suspended operations at three airports in Andhra Pradesh due to bad weather.

Nepal Suspends Climbing Permits

The impact of extreme weather also threatens Nepal. The local Immigration Department stopped issuing climbing permits to high mountain areas for three days in anticipation of heavy rain, snowstorms and avalanches in the Himalayas.

Nepal's Immigration Department information officer, Gita Ghimire, told Reuters the policy was taken for the safety of climbers.

The move comes as Nepal enters its peak climbing season, when around 750 climbers obtain permits every day. The government has warned tourists to avoid highland areas from Thursday evening to Saturday.

Arnab formed in the Bay of Bengal, an area that is often a location for tropical cyclone formation. India itself experienced a similar disaster in October 1999, when a super cyclone hit Odisha and killed nearly 10,000 people.

Since then, India has continued to strengthen its early warning system and evacuation measures to reduce the risk of loss of life when a major cyclone hits.