Red sky over India’s Chhattisgarh state sparks amazement amid Cyclone Arnab

An unusual weather phenomenon has surprised residents of Chhattisgarh, in central India, after the sky turned an intense reddish color in several areas. Images and videos recorded in places such as Dantewada and Kirandul quickly spread across social media, with users comparing the scenery to the planet Mars and scenes from the series Stranger Things.

The phenomenon coincided with the passage of Cyclone Arnab, which brought strong winds and heavy rainfall to parts of the region. Although the unusual color has been linked to atmospheric disturbances associated with the storm, its precise cause has not been independently confirmed.

What caused the reddish sky?

Scientists explain that red and orange hues can appear when sunlight interacts with particles suspended in the atmosphere, including dust, smoke and water droplets. The effect can become more pronounced during sunrise or sunset, when sunlight travels through a longer portion of the atmosphere, scattering shorter blue wavelengths and allowing warmer colors to dominate.

Strong cyclone winds can also lift dust and soil particles into the atmosphere, potentially intensifying the effect. However, experts have cautioned that the exact explanation for the color observed in Chhattisgarh remains unconfirmed.

Cyclone Arnab leaves damage and casualties

Cyclone Arnab made landfall along the coast of Andhra Pradesh on October 28, bringing winds of approximately 130 kilometers per hour and heavy rainfall. The storm caused deaths, damage to homes and crops, fallen trees and power outages. Reports have differed on the death toll, with figures ranging from at least three to six people.

Although the system weakened after moving inland, authorities continued monitoring the risk of heavy rain and strong winds across parts of central India.