Weather & Nature · Andhra Pradesh, India
Cyclone Arnab: flights and trains cancelled across Andhra Pradesh
Cyclone Arnab hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October. Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry airports suspended flights and dozens of trains were cancelled. Here's how to check your trip and claim a refund.
By Roamie News Desk · Published · Updated
Photo: Vizagdestinations / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Cyclone Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam in the early hours of Wednesday 28 October, after flights at Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were suspended from the evening of 27 October (Odisha TV, citing India's Civil Aviation Ministry). Dozens of trains linking coastal Andhra Pradesh with Telangana and Odisha were also cancelled (Down To Earth). The storm has since weakened over land, but some disruption is likely to carry into the rest of the week.
What we know
- Landfall. The landfall process began at about 1:20 am IST on 28 October between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) as reported by Business Today. Down To Earth reports the system stalled and completed landfall at about 8 am.
- Strength. IMD classed Arnab as a "very severe" cyclonic storm before landfall, with sustained winds of 125–135 km/h gusting to 150 km/h (Business Today). It then weakened to a "severe" cyclonic storm and was expected to become a deep depression by Wednesday night (ETV Bharat live updates).
- Airports. Visakhapatnam airport was closed from the afternoon of 27 October, and all flights at Vijayawada and Rajahmundry were suspended after 7 pm that day (Odisha TV). At Vijayawada, 18 of 21 scheduled services were cancelled on Wednesday (ETV Bharat).
- Airlines. According to the ministry's provisional figures, Air India cancelled six flights on its Delhi–Visakhapatnam and Delhi–Vijayawada routes, Air India Express cancelled 13 (mostly Visakhapatnam services, plus Varanasi–Bangkok and Bangkok–Visakhapatnam), and Akasa Air cancelled its Delhi–Bhogapuram round trip on 28 October. IndiGo suspended all flights at the three airports (Odisha TV).
- Knock-on cancellations. Chennai airport cancelled 12 more flights on Wednesday linked to the three Andhra airports, and Kolkata saw three IndiGo arrivals and two departures cancelled (ETV Bharat). Bhubaneswar stayed mostly open, though some Chennai and Hyderabad flights were routed via Raipur to avoid Visakhapatnam airspace, the airport's director said (same source).
- Trains. South Central Railway cancelled 11 trains as the storm approached, including the Secunderabad–Howrah Falaknuma Express, the Hyderabad–Visakhapatnam Godavari Express and the Secunderabad–Visakhapatnam Garib Rath (The Hans India). Totals across zones differ by report: Down To Earth counted 64 services cancelled for Tuesday and Wednesday, while Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was reported as saying more than 50 trains were cancelled along the east coast (ETV Bharat).
- On the ground. About 58,000 people were in relief camps, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (Down To Earth). Reports on deaths differed on Wednesday: an NDRF official said three people had died in Andhra Pradesh, while the Chief Minister said earlier in the day that none had been reported (same source).
What it means for travellers
If you are flying into or out of Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada or Rajahmundry this week, expect cancellations, re-timed flights and busy rebooking queues as airlines restart. IndiGo said on Wednesday that flights at all three airports would "remain impacted" (ETV Bharat). Connections through Hyderabad, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata may also be affected.
Rail passengers on routes between Hyderabad, coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha should expect cancelled, short-terminated or diverted trains. Some changes run into early November: at least 22 express and passenger services were listed as cancelled or suspended between 27 October and 5 November (ETV Bharat).
Road transfers will be slower too. The ministry warned of waterlogging and road closures in coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha (Odisha TV), and IMD forecast heavy rain in parts of West Bengal until 31 October (ETV Bharat).
What to do
- Check before you leave. The Civil Aviation Ministry asked passengers to check flight status on the airline's website, app, helpline or SMS, and not to travel to the airport unless the flight is confirmed (Odisha TV).
- Ask for a refund or a new flight. The ministry told airlines to follow rebooking and refund rules and to keep passengers informed (same source). IndiGo offers a refund or rebooking for cancelled flights through its "Plan B" option (Wego).
- Escalate if needed. If the airline doesn't resolve your complaint, you can raise it on the government's AirSewa portal or app (Odisha TV).
- Rail passengers: South Central Railway says changes are sent by SMS to the mobile number used when booking a reserved ticket (The Hans India). Check your train on the official NTES enquiry service before going to the station.
- Allow extra time for road journeys to airports and stations in affected districts, and follow local advisories.
What happens next
IMD expected Arnab to keep weakening as it moves inland, with isolated heavy rain in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday 29 October (Down To Earth). IMD also flagged that a fresh low-pressure area may form over the south Andaman Sea (ETV Bharat). No reopening time for the three Andhra airports had been announced in the sources we read, so check with your airline for the latest.
Sources
- Civil Aviation Ministry reviews Cyclone Arnab situation, operational readiness in Odisha-Andhra — Odisha TV (via ANI)
- Cyclone Arnab: 'Very severe' cyclonic storm continues to make landfall; Air India, IndiGo flights cancelled — Business Today
- Cyclone Arnab weakens after landfall in Andhra Pradesh; over 58,000 evacuated — Down To Earth
- Cyclone Arnab LIVE updates — ETV Bharat
- As Cyclone 'Arnab' turns severe, South Central Railway cancels 11 trains — The Hans India
- Cyclone Arnab flight cancellations: Andhra airport status — Wego
- AirSewa passenger grievance portal — Ministry of Civil Aviation, India