Cyclone Arnab has made landfall on India's east coast, bringing heavy rainfall and wind speeds of up to 135 kilometres per hour (84 mph) and causing widespread damage across the region.

Trees fell onto highways and power supplies were disrupted after Arnab crossed into Andhra Pradesh early on Wednesday morning.

At least 180,000 people were evacuated from Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states ahead of the storm's arrival. Flights and train services were cancelled, and some schools were forced to close. Authorities say more than 12 million people live in the cyclone's expected path.

No casualties have been reported so far.

One resident of Kakinada district in Andhra Pradesh said: "No one knew whose house the water would rush into next or whose home would be submerged."

India's Meteorological Department forecast a storm surge of up to 1.5 metres above the tide level, warning it was likely to submerge low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh.

Arnab made landfall as a "very severe cyclonic storm" — the third-highest category on its scale — before being downgraded to "severe" after moving further inland.

In neighbouring Nepal, authorities warned tourists on Tuesday not to enter high-altitude areas over fears that Arnab could trigger torrential downpours, snowstorms and avalanches from Thursday through to Saturday. Authorities also suspended the issuing of trekking permits for three days.

This is peak hiking season in Nepal, with approximately 750 hikers receiving permits daily.

Nepal is still recovering from a catastrophic glacial mountain collapse in August, which killed more than 1,400 people and left at least 5,000 missing.

Sri Lanka has also closed schools, with its Department of Meteorology warning the storm could trigger flash floods and landslides.