From Drought to Heavy Rainfall

Andhra Pradesh witnessed an extraordinary change in weather conditions during the 2026 monsoon season. During June and July, drought was declared in 388 out of the State's 688 mandals across 28 districts due to inadequate rainfall.

However, the situation changed dramatically towards the end of October, when extremely heavy rainfall affected several areas that had earlier experienced drought. Rayalaseema was among the regions that did not experience the same intensity of late-season rainfall.

Two Cyclones Bring Widespread Destruction

Between October 28 and November 3, two successive cyclones, Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Arnab and Severe Cyclonic Storm Murasu, affected Andhra Pradesh.

The two weather systems reportedly caused an estimated ₹6,500 crore in damage and resulted in at least 17 deaths. Strong winds and heavy rainfall damaged roads, electricity infrastructure, agricultural fields and coastal settlements.

Visakhapatnam and several other coastal districts experienced severe weather conditions. Thousands of coconut trees were uprooted, while paddy, cotton and chilli crops suffered extensive damage in multiple districts.

Farmers and Coastal Communities Face a Long Recovery

The Godavari region was among the worst-affected agricultural areas. Coconut growers are facing significant losses, with some farmers estimating that it could take at least two years to recover.

Fishing communities also suffered damage to boats, equipment and fishing nets. In coastal villages, residents were left to repair damaged homes and restore their livelihoods.

Restoration Work Continues Across the State

The cyclones also caused widespread disruption to electricity infrastructure, with thousands of power poles reportedly damaged. Electricity workers and disaster-response teams undertook restoration operations across affected districts.

The sequence of drought, extreme rainfall and successive cyclones highlights the vulnerability of agriculture and coastal livelihoods to unpredictable weather conditions.

The Hindu's photo feature, Many Twists in the Monsoon's Tale, documents the impact through photographs showing rough seas, damaged roads, uprooted trees, affected fishing communities and restoration efforts across Andhra Pradesh.