Antarvedi (Andhra Pradesh), October 28: A cargo vessel carrying sulphur ran aground near Antarvedi in Andhra Pradesh after reportedly drifting off course amid Cyclone Arnab, MMD Surveyor Dharmasastha said on Wednesday.

According to port officials, the vessel had departed from Visakhapatnam when its engine reportedly failed, causing it to drift off course before running aground near Antarvedi.

Port officials and maritime authorities are monitoring the situation. Dharmasastha said the authorities will determine the vessel's condition and the next course of action after an inspection.

Meanwhile, Cyclone Arnab completed its landfall along the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, southwest of Yanam, by 8 am on Wednesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The system recorded maximum sustained wind speeds of 125–135 kmph, with gusts reaching up to 150 kmph.

In a post on X, the IMD said the cyclone crossed the coast between 2 am and 8 am on October 28, with its centre moving completely over land by 8 am.

At 8:30 am, the cyclonic system was centred over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam and the adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal. It was located approximately 20 km east-northeast of Narsapur, 40 km southwest of Yanam, 60 km southwest of Kakinada, 90 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam, 120 km east of Gannavaram and 120 km southwest of Tuni.

The Andhra Pradesh government has been placed on high alert, with the state administration working round the clock to protect lives and minimise property damage, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said on Wednesday.

No loss of life has been reported so far. However, high-intensity sea waves and severe coastal erosion triggered by the cyclone have damaged the Uppada coastal road near Kakinada.

Restoration and repair work has begun in the affected area to restore connectivity and protect the vulnerable coastline.