Cyclone Arnab Deals Fresh Blow to Anakapalli, Bridge Collapses, Causeways Flooded
Heavy rain triggers flooding, embankment breaches and power outages, disrupting transport and village connectivity.
Visakhapatnam: Heavy rainfall from Cyclone Arnab has caused widespread damage and disruption across Anakapalli district, resulting in the collapse of a major bridge, breaches in water bodies, flooding of causeways and power outages.
A bridge over the Eluru canal near Ramki on the Lankelapalem-Parawada road collapsed on Wednesday morning following incessant rains. The road was a crucial access route to the Pharma City in Parawada mandal. Vehicular movement in the area was seriously hit.
A team of CPIM leaders, including 106th Ward candidate Boddhapu Srinivasa Rao and CPIM secretariat member Gani Shetti Satyanarayana, visited the site and alleged that overloaded trucks continuously transporting coal ash to the Hinduja and NTPC power plants affected the bridge’s strength.
They said large potholes had developed on the bridge long ago but the authorities ignored the calls for repairs. The road's deteriorating condition had caused several accidents, resulting in fatalities and injuries, particularly among two-wheeler riders.
In another development, heavy inflows breached the embankment of Tamara Cheruvu near Kotnabilli panchayat in Ravikamatham mandal. As a result, connectivity between Gadabha Palem and Ramanna Dora Palem villages has been disrupted.
Residents now have to walk nearly 13km to reach the T Ajjapuram village secretariat.
Meanwhile, water levels in reservoirs across the district have risen sharply. After storage levels at the Pedderu reservoir in Madugula mandal rose significantly, officials released water on Wednesday morning as a precautionary measure. District collector Vijayakrishnan appealed to residents of Anakapalli, Chodavaram, Butchayyapeta, Madugula, Kasimkota and Rambilli mandals to remain alert. The reservoir's release has substantially increased the Sharada river's flow, prompting the authorities to alert the people living along the river basin.
The impact was immediately visible downstream, with rivers and streams across the district flowing in spate. In Butchayyapeta mandal, floodwaters from the Sharada river flowed over the causeways connecting the Vaddadi and Vijayaramarajupeta villages.
As a precautionary measure, police stopped all vehicular traffic across the submerged causeways and advised residents not to venture out unless absolutely necessary. Officials are closely monitoring the water levels and have cautioned motorists against attempting to cross flooded stretches.
Adding to the hardship, power supply across the district remained largely disrupted from Tuesday night until Wednesday morning. The prolonged outage caused considerable inconvenience to residents already grappling with severe weather condition.
With heavy rains continuing and water levels remaining high in reservoirs, rivers and tanks, the district authorities have intensified monitoring and urged the public to remain vigilant until cyclonic conditions subside.
