Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast in the early hours of Wednesday, October 28, bringing destructive winds and heavy rainfall to coastal districts. Trees were uprooted, electricity infrastructure was damaged and transport services were disrupted as authorities continued emergency operations in vulnerable areas. The last major cyclone to hit Andhra Pradesh before Cyclone Arnab was Cyclone Montha, which made landfall near Kakinada on October 28–29, 2025. It struck almost exactly a year before Arnab’s landfall on October 28, 2026.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast that the very severe cyclonic storm would cross the Andhra Pradesh–Yanam coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, with sustained winds of 125–135 kmph and gusts reaching 150 kmph. The landfall process began early on Wednesday and was expected to continue for several hours.

Officials reported peak winds of up to 185 kmph during the storm, while warning that dangerous weather would persist across coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts of neighbouring Odisha even as the system weakened over land. The IMD’s subsequent bulletins will be important for establishing the storm’s observed intensity and movement.

What Does the Name Arnab Mean?

The name Arnab was proposed by Bangladesh and is included in the official list of tropical cyclone names maintained under the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) regional system.

Pronounced “Ornab”, the name is commonly associated with the Bengali word for the ocean or sea. The official naming list confirms Bangladesh as the country that proposed it, although the list itself does not provide a formal definition of the word.

The regional naming system includes 13 countries: Bangladesh, India, Iran, the Maldives, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Each country contributes names to a shared list, which meteorological agencies use in sequence as cyclones develop over the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal.

Andhra Pradesh Bears the Immediate Impact

Coastal Andhra Pradesh experienced the most immediate effects as the cyclone approached and crossed the coast. Reports from Kakinada described uprooted trees and damaged electrical infrastructure. In Visakhapatnam, strong winds and rain brought down trees, obstructing traffic along Beach Road and in Seethammadhara.

The IMD reported exceptionally heavy rainfall at several locations in Anakapalli and Visakhapatnam districts. Rainfall exceeding 200 mm was recorded at some stations during the observation period extending from October 27 into the early hours of October 28. Such intense rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems, flood low-lying settlements and disrupt road connectivity.

Power disruptions and transport cancellations added to the difficulties faced by residents. Some train services were cancelled, while flight operations at airports in the region were reported suspended. Schools were closed in affected areas, and some school buildings were used as temporary shelters. The full extent of damage to houses, agricultural land, roads and public infrastructure was not yet clear in the initial post-landfall reports.

Thousands Evacuated: Authorities Prepare for Flooding

The scale of the evacuation operation reflected the exposure of coastal communities to strong winds and flooding. According to the Associated Press, at least 89,000 people had been evacuated from vulnerable areas in Andhra Pradesh by Wednesday morning.

Authorities had established more than 2,000 cyclone shelters across 20 districts, secured over 30,000 fishing boats and deployed nearly 1,100 medical teams for emergency assistance. The state’s disaster management authority said more than 12 million people lived along the cyclone’s projected path.

In neighbouring Odisha, authorities planned to evacuate approximately 48,000 people from areas expected to be affected. The IMD warned of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in parts of southern Odisha, raising concerns about flooding and possible landslides in hilly districts. The evacuation figures describe the scale of preparedness and displacement, rather than the number of people confirmed to have suffered damage or injury.

Risks Continue After Landfall

A cyclone’s impact can persist after its centre crosses the coast. Heavy rainfall may continue as the system moves inland, while saturated soil and swollen rivers can increase flood risks. Strong winds can also delay the restoration of electricity and transport services.

Agriculture and fishing are among the livelihoods potentially exposed to the storm. Standing paddy crops may be damaged by strong winds and waterlogging, while rough seas and fishing restrictions can interrupt incomes for coastal communities. The actual losses to these sectors will depend on the storm’s subsequent movement and local damage assessments. At the time of the initial post-landfall reports, there were no immediate reports of casualties. This was an early assessment, and the situation required continued monitoring as emergency teams reached affected areas.

For generations, farmers in Kashmir have cultivated traditional varieties of rice adapted to the region’s distinctive growing conditions. A new genomic study has found that these varieties retain genetic characteristics associated with cold tolerance and local adaptation, potentially offering valuable resources for developing climate-resilient crops.

Researchers at the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Kashmir), Srinagar, analysed 142 rice germplasm samples to examine the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of rice cultivated in the region. Published in The Plant Genome in 2026, the study identified genetic signatures in traditional varieties that could help researchers develop rice better suited to environmental stress.

The findings are significant as climate change alters growing conditions and increases uncertainty for agricultural production. Preserving traditional crop varieties could give plant breeders access to genetic traits that may have become less common in modern cultivars.

Genes linked to cold tolerance

The study, titled Re-sequencing 142 rice genomes reveals the fine-scale population structure and phylogenetic affinities of landraces of Kashmir Valley: Evidence from domestication and adaptive signatures, used genomic analysis to investigate relationships among traditional landraces, modern varieties and other rice genetic resources.

The researchers found that Kashmir’s traditional varieties carried genetic signatures associated with temperate japonica rice, while many modern varieties showed stronger associations with indica lineages from subtropical India. This distinction points to differences in their genetic histories and adaptation to local growing environments.

Among the important findings was the identification of favourable variants of CTB4a and HAN1, two genes associated with cold tolerance in rice. The researchers also examined genetic variation linked to grain quality, plant development and other agricultural traits.

Traditional varieties, including Mushq Budji, Kamad, Kaw Kreer, Nun Beoul and Zag, displayed distinctive genetic patterns. Their diversity could provide useful material for future crop-improvement programmes.

The findings do not establish that all these varieties are more resilient than modern cultivars under every environmental condition. Instead, they identify genetic resources that warrant further investigation through breeding programmes and field trials.

Earlier research explains the significance

Previous research provides a scientific basis for investigating the cold-tolerance genes identified in Kashmir’s traditional rice varieties.

A 2017 study published in Nature Communications examined CTB4a, a gene associated with cold tolerance during the booting stage of rice development, when reproductive structures form. The researchers found that a favourable variant improved cold tolerance and helped maintain pollen fertility and seed setting under low-temperature conditions.

Crops in a paddy field.Image credit:Pexels

Similarly, a 2019 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences investigated HAN1 and found that natural genetic variation in the gene contributes to chilling tolerance in temperate japonica rice. The findings helped explain how rice adapted to cooler climates.

These studies strengthen the case for investigating CTB4a and HAN1 variants in Kashmir’s rice germplasm. However, the presence of promising genetic variants does not automatically guarantee improved performance in farmers’ fields. Their effects can depend on the crop’s broader genetic background, the timing and intensity of temperature stress, and other environmental conditions.

Conserving agricultural diversity

The Kashmir study also offers insights into the region’s agricultural history. Its genetic analysis suggests links between traditional Kashmir rice varieties and temperate rice lineages associated with Northeast Asia. The researchers propose that these lineages reached the region after approximately 1500 BCE, although this historical reconstruction remains an interpretation of genetic and archaeological evidence.

Beyond their historical significance, traditional rice varieties may preserve traits useful for future agricultural challenges. Modern breeding programmes often prioritise yield and other selected characteristics, but genetic diversity within traditional varieties can provide additional options for addressing environmental stress and maintaining grain quality.

The findings underline the importance of conserving traditional rice germplasm in gene banks and supporting its continued cultivation where feasible. Such conservation helps prevent potentially valuable genetic material from disappearing as farming systems and crop preferences change.

As climate change places increasing pressure on agricultural systems, Kashmir’s traditional rice varieties offer researchers a valuable starting point for investigating crop adaptation. Their genetic diversity connects generations of farming knowledge with modern genomic research, potentially helping plant breeders develop rice varieties suited to changing environmental conditions while preserving the region’s agricultural heritage.

India’s green cover declined from approximately 36.95 per cent in 2001 to 31.35 per cent in 2025, while non-green surfaces expanded across the country, according to a new study by Climate Trends. The analysis found that non-green landscapes consistently recorded higher summer temperatures than vegetated areas, highlighting the role of green cover in moderating local heat.

The study, Assessment of Green Cover Dynamics and Their Influence on Summer Temperature across India Using MODIS Land Cover and ERA5 Reanalysis Data, found that the average summer temperature difference between green and non-green landscapes ranged from approximately 1°C to 2.5°C. Areas experiencing green-cover loss recorded a mean summer temperature increase of 0.26°C.

The findings suggest that vegetation loss can contribute to local warming, although the study also identifies broader regional climate change as a factor influencing temperature trends. Protecting and restoring vegetation could help reduce local thermal stress, but it cannot independently offset the effects of global warming.

“Vegetation is not merely an ecological asset; it is an important component of India’s climate-adaptation infrastructure,” said Dr Palak Balyan, Research Lead at Climate Trends.

The study comes amid growing concerns over extreme heat and its implications for public health, livelihoods and infrastructure. The India Meteorological Department reported that 2024 was the country’s warmest year since records began in 1901, with the annual mean temperature 0.65°C above the 1991–2020 average.

Vegetation Loss and the Local Heat Effect

The Climate Trends analysis used land-cover information from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and ERA5-Land temperature data to assess changes between 2001 and 2025. It examined summer conditions during March, April and May to understand how land-cover transitions corresponded with temperature patterns.

Vegetation helps regulate surface temperatures through shading and evapotranspiration, the process by which plants release water vapour into the atmosphere. Trees reduce the amount of solar radiation reaching the ground, while vegetation and soil moisture influence how energy is absorbed and released. When green landscapes are replaced by built-up areas, exposed ground or sparsely vegetated surfaces, these cooling mechanisms may weaken.

Dr Balyan said the persistent temperature difference between green and non-green landscapes demonstrated the importance of vegetation in regulating local thermal conditions.

“Protecting existing natural vegetation should therefore be treated as an adaptation priority, particularly in regions experiencing simultaneous green-cover loss and rising summer temperatures,” she said.

The findings are consistent with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s assessment of nature-based cooling measures, which identifies urban trees, vegetation and green infrastructure as potential ways to reduce heat exposure. However, the extent of cooling depends on local climate, vegetation type, water availability and the surrounding built environment.

Regional Differences Require Targeted Action

The study found that green-cover loss was concentrated in parts of western India, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, central India and the peninsula. Localised gains were identified in portions of the northeastern states, the Himalayan foothills and scattered areas of southern and eastern India.

Temperature changes also varied geographically. Warming was particularly evident across northwestern and northern India, while localised cooling occurred in parts of central and southern India. These variations indicate that national averages can obscure differences in local land-use patterns and climate conditions.

The findings have implications for urban planning, particularly in rapidly expanding cities where construction can replace trees, open spaces and other vegetated landscapes. Protecting mature trees, retaining existing green spaces and integrating vegetation into streets and public areas could help reduce heat exposure, particularly in vulnerable neighbourhoods.

However, restoration must be planned around local ecological conditions. Newly planted trees cannot immediately provide the shade offered by mature canopies, and their survival depends on suitable species, soil conditions, water availability and long-term maintenance. Protecting established vegetation is therefore an important complement to new planting initiatives.

Green Cover Cannot Replace Broader Climate Action

The study emphasises that land-cover changes are not the only drivers of summer temperatures. Both green and non-green landscapes experienced warming during the study period, indicating the continuing influence of broader climatic conditions.

Dr S K Dhaka, Professor of Atmospheric Physics at the University of Delhi, cautioned against treating vegetation restoration as a standalone solution.

“Vegetation restoration can reduce local thermal stress, but it should not be viewed as a substitute for broader climate action,” he said.

Temporal variation in green and non-green land cover across India

He added that warming observed even in areas that remained continuously green showed that large-scale climatic forces continued to influence regional temperatures.

“India therefore needs a dual strategy: prevent further loss of established vegetation while implementing scientifically targeted restoration in heat-vulnerable regions, alongside stronger action on water management, urban planning and greenhouse-gas emissions,” Dr Dhaka said.

The distinction is important because increasing vegetation alone cannot eliminate heat risks associated with rising background temperatures. Effective adaptation requires combining nature-based measures with emissions reduction, appropriate urban design and improved water management.

Aarti Khosla, Founder-Director of Climate Trends, said the study highlighted the practical consequences of losing vegetation.

“The study puts a number on something we’ve long argued, that vegetation is not a biodiversity afterthought, but a climate-adaptation infrastructure,” she said.

“Where green cover has disappeared, temperatures have risen with it, and that is a cost India’s communities are already paying for,” Khosla added.

She also pointed to international biodiversity commitments, including the target of restoring 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems by 2030, arguing that the gap between commitments and implementation has consequences for climate resilience.

The study recommends protecting existing vegetation, preventing avoidable green-cover loss and promoting ecological restoration as part of sustainable land management.

Its central message is that green cover should be considered more than an environmental amenity. While vegetation cannot prevent all forms of warming, conserving it can help moderate local temperatures and reduce thermal stress. As India faces increasing heat risks, integrating vegetation protection into climate adaptation and development planning could help build more resilient communities.