APEPDCL Mobilises 4,339 Personnel, Equipment Ahead of Cyclone Arnab
Emergency response teams and specialised equipment have been deployed across Andhra Pradesh as APEPDCL prepares for cyclone-related damage and restoration work.
The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited has mobilised 4,339 personnel, grouped into 438 emergency response teams, to restore power ahead of cyclone Arnab, likely to hit the AP coast by Tuesday evening.
The utility has positioned equipment in vulnerable areas, including 244 generators, 297 pole-drilling machines, 567 power saws, 239 cranes, 121 JCBs and 382 vehicles.
APEPDCL has stocked 8,662 electricity poles, 620 distribution transformers and over 272km of conductors to speed up restoration efforts. It has also kept 425km long 100sq-mm conductors, 756km of 55sq-mm conductors, and 496km of LT Aerial Bunched cables ready.
Company CMD Immadi Pruthvi Tej said nearly 15,000 additional electricity poles are being positioned for immediate deployment in the event of infrastructure damage.
To strengthen restoration capabilities, APEPDCL has sought assistance from APSPDCL.
A total of 97 specialised restoration teams have been earmarked for deployment in cyclone-affected areas, with 55 already departed from districts including Kurnool, Annamayya, Sri Sathya Sai, Anantapur, Nellore, Nandyal, YSR Kadapa, Tirupati and Chittoor.
Tej said the utility has put its field machinery on high alert and completed advance arrangements to tackle cyclone-related disruptions, maintain essential services, and restore power quickly in affected areas. After reviewing preparedness in a teleconference with senior officials, the CMD directed field staff across vulnerable coastal districts to remain vigilant and ready to respond immediately.
According to IMD forecasts, the cyclone could bring gale-force winds exceeding 120kmph. Officials in Kakinada, the Ambedkar Konaseema, and Anakapalli districts have been instructed by the government to remain vigilant and prioritise protecting electrical infrastructure and public safety.
To enable round-the-clock monitoring, APEPDCL has set up 30 division-level control rooms across 11 circles and created a dedicated coordination cell at its corporate office. The cell will oversee personnel deployment, evacuation coordination and restoration activities.
Senior officers have been assigned district-specific responsibilities to supervise preparedness and restoration measures, with special focus on vulnerable coastal districts expected to bear the brunt of the cyclone.
Safety steps: Highlighting safety, the CMD said it may temporarily shut down electricity supply in areas experiencing dangerously high wind speeds to prevent accidents. Supply will be restored only after a thorough inspection and verification of network safety. Residents have been advised to stay away from snapped power lines and report electrical emergencies immediately.
The 1912 customer service centre has been strengthened with additional workforce and will operate 24 hours a day through special shifts. Consumers have been urged to report power outages, damaged poles and fallen electrical lines without delay.
The CMD said special measures are being taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply to critical services such as hospitals, drinking water systems and communication networks.
