GVMC Fields 7,500 Workers To Restore Vizag’s Life After Cyclone Arnab

Visakhapatnam: As Cyclone Arnab uprooted trees, damaged streetlight systems and disrupted essential services across Visakhapatnam, thousands of municipal workers began working round the clock to restore normalcy.

From reopening roads and removing hazardous structures to repairing streetlights and restoring the drinking water supply, teams have moved across affected wards to address complaints and clear storm-related damage.

The scale of the restoration effort is reflected in the numbers.

Of the 1,013 fallen trees, the GVMC cleared 904 by Thursday.

The corporation reopened all 313 roads blocked by the cyclone and removed 892 weakened flex banners to prevent further hazards.

It also restored around 70 per cent of the fallen streetlight poles.

By Thursday morning, drinking water supply to nearly 50 per cent of the city had been restored.

Supply across Visakhapatnam could be restored by Friday morning.

Around 7,500 workers, with GVMC employees and officers standing by, worked hard in the restoration drive.

Personnel from the public health, horticulture, public works, water supply, electrical, town planning and welfare wings were also participating in the operation.

Commissioner Ketan Garg said municipal teams worked day and night.

The operations were continuing through Thursday night.

To coordinate the response, the GVMC has deployed 120 ward-level rapid response teams, 21 zone-level joint operations teams, 57 rescue and relief teams, 21 infrastructure restoration units and 10 vulnerability assessment units.

Three additional commissioners and the chief engineer supervised field operations, while a 24-hour City Operations Centre coordinated the citywide response.

Despite the progress, the drinking water supply had not yet been fully resumed and repairs to damaged streetlights were still under way.

For residents, reopening a road or restoring water supply marked a gradual return to everyday life.