Fury of Cyclone Arnab: Heavy rains and floods in areas including Visakhapatnam

Due to Cyclone Arnab, a natural disaster with heavy rains and winds has occurred on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. In the early hours of Wednesday, the process of Cyclone Arnab making landfall began on the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coast, due to which torrential rains have lashed the entire region. In Visakhapatnam, due to heavy rains and strong winds, the situation in the city has become grave and normal life has almost come to a standstill.

According to a Hindustan Times report, trees have been uprooted by the force of the winds in Visakhapatnam and water has logged on the roads. Due to sea waves and high water levels at Visakhapatnam's RK Beach, marine conditions appeared severe. According to an ANI report, a tree was also uprooted near the AU College of Engineering for Women in Visakhapatnam. In Konaseema district too, many trees have fallen due to the wind, causing obstruction to movement. On the other hand, in Chennai's Ennore area, huge sea waves entered roads and residential areas.

District Collector M. Abhijith Kishore stated that winds were blowing at speeds of 40 kmph to 50 kmph since morning, and after 9 pm the wind speed is likely to reach up to 100 kmph. An average rainfall of 147.9 mm was recorded in Visakhapatnam district between 8.30 am and 9 pm. This included the highest rainfall of 206.8 mm in Gopalapatnam, 160.8 mm in Visakhapatnam (Rural), and 155.2 mm in Pendurthi.

According to the command control room, 206 trees were uprooted within the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation limits, out of which 55 trees were cleared by 6 pm. Out of the 103 calls received by the control room, 42 calls were regarding fallen trees and 51 calls regarding power supply, out of which 17 problems were resolved. Schools and Anganwadi centers have been kept closed in Visakhapatnam, 102 bus services have been cancelled and beaches have been closed.

Collector Kishore visited the relief center at Mangamaripeta beach and Upper GVMC Primary School. He instructed officials to provide facilities of drinking water, food, toilets, and electricity, telling them to give priority to the elderly, women, children, and pregnant women. So far, 85 people have taken shelter in relief centers in the district and 72 food packets have been distributed. The Collector has instructed officials to immediately shift people from vulnerable coastal and hilly areas to safe places.

To combat the disaster, along with a National Disaster Response Force team, 63 earth movers, 30 tree-cutting teams, 50 generators, and 75 rescue boats have been deployed. The Navy and Coast Guard are also cooperating. A total of 2,131 cyclone shelters have been identified across 20 districts in Andhra Pradesh. 1,087 medical teams, 8,281 emergency beds, and 1,274 ambulances have been kept ready. Two months' stock of food grains has been kept in 14,686 ration shops by the government and alerts have been sent to the mobile phones of 2.70 crore people. 1,351 pregnant women have been shifted to hospitals.

In Kakinada, four people were trapped due to heavy rains and water logging, whom the police rescued. These four people had come for duty in the morning and were surrounded by water till night. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a flash flood warning for districts including Bapatla, Guntur, Krishna, NTR, Eluru, West Godavari, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada, Alluri, Anakapalli, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, and Parvathipuram Manyam in Andhra Pradesh.

Due to the impact of the cyclone, railway and air services have also been majorly affected. South Coast Railway has cancelled 24 and East Coast Railway 22 trains, while South Eastern Railway has cancelled 4 trains. Announcements to cancel several flights have also been made by Air India, Air India Express, Indigo, and Akasa Air. Schools are closed in 16 out of 30 districts in Odisha and more than 30,000 people have been shifted to shelters. A decision has been taken to keep schools closed in Jharkhand on October 28 and 29 as well.

The cyclone is expected to cross the coast in the early hours of Wednesday and heavy rainfall may continue. Fishermen have been prohibited from going into the sea until October 29. Residents of Visakhapatnam can contact the Collectorate Control Room or GVMC helpline numbers.