AP Limping Back to Normalcy After Cyclone-Hit
Power restored in 4,881 affected villages as teams work to repair roads and mobile networks.
Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh is steadily returning to normalcy across various sectors after the disruptions caused by Cyclone Arnab that hit the coastal districts hard earlier this week.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been monitoring relief and restoration operations in cyclone-hit areas for the past four days, personally reviewing the situation and visiting affected regions to expedite the restoration of essential services.
Before leaving for Mogalthur and Narsapuram in West Godavari district on Friday, Naidu held a review of relief and restoration operations. Officials briefed him on the progress in restoring electricity, roads and mobile communication networks. He directed them to accord top priority to power restoration, with assistance being mobilised from other states to accelerate the work.
Through teleconferences, video conferences and field visits, Naidu has been directly interacting with officials and field personnel, prompting government departments to intensify restoration work. Teams are working round the clock to restore electricity, transport and communication services and minimise public hardship.
In the APEPDCL service area, power supply has been restored to 4,881 of the 5,404 affected villages. Of the 552 damaged substations, 513, or nearly 93 per cent, have been restored. Work remains pending at 39 substations. Electricity has been restored in all affected villages in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada and Eluru districts.
Of the 509 affected 33 kV feeders, 489 have been restored, along with 2,355 of the 2,958 damaged 11 kV feeders. In Konaseema and West Godavari districts, power supply has been restored to 87 of 316 villages and 154 of 318 villages, respectively, leaving 393 villages awaiting restoration. In Krishna district, 867 of the 915 affected villages have regained power supply under APCPDCL.
Mobile connectivity is gradually getting back to normal, with 661 of the 1,045 damaged mobile towers restored. Work is pending at 384 towers.
Road clearance has progressed, with all 2,270 trees uprooted on Roads and Buildings (R&B) department roads removed, including 1,334 in Konaseema district. Traffic was disrupted at 137 locations, of which connectivity has been restored at 119. The cyclone damaged 2,425.45 km of R&B roads. At one location in Srikakulam district, traffic is being allowed on only one side because of flowing floodwater.
Temporary restoration has been completed at all 100 affected locations under the Water Resources Department, comprising 78 tanks and 22 canals.
Agricultural crops across 3,52,254 hectares in 16 districts were submerged, while horticultural crops suffered damage over 23,211 hectares. Central teams were expected to visit the state to assess the damage.
Rainfall between October 26 and 29 is estimated to have generated around 380tmc of water across the state, with flood inflows continuing. Effective water management has added 4.68tmc to reservoir storage, with another 5–6tmc expected. Minor irrigation tanks have received 22tmc, with a further 8–12tmc anticipated. Groundwater reserves have increased by approximately 44tmc.
Inflow forecasts for the next five days indicate 16.24tmc into Gotta Barrage and 12.01tmc into Madduvalasa reservoir.
