Andhra Pradesh restores power to 4,765 cyclone-hit villages; ₹29.69 crore loss estimated

Power distribution infrastructure across eastern Andhra Pradesh, damaged by Cyclone Arnab, is being restored in a phased manner, with field personnel from the Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) working round the clock, the utility said. The effort covers damaged grids, snapped lines, sub-stations and uprooted poles across several districts.

APEPDCL is the distribution utility for eastern Andhra Pradesh. Cyclonic winds and rain can damage poles, wires and sub-stations, making power restoration a key part of relief work for households, hospitals and water supply. Communications and emergency services also depend on electricity.

Electricity supply has been restored to 4,765 of the 5,400 cyclone-hit villages, according to the utility. Restoration work is continuing in the remaining 635 villages. In Visakhapatnam district, restoration work has reached 100 per cent completion. Full grid recovery has also been reported in Vizianagaram, Kakinada and Eluru districts.

At the network level, supply has been restored to 485 of the 551 affected 33/11 kV sub-stations, 464 of the 508 33 kV feeders and 2,134 of the 2,184 11 kV feeders. Of the 28.68 lakh affected non-agricultural electricity connections, 17.31 lakh consumers have had supply reinstated. In the agricultural category, 39,461 of the 1.09 lakh affected connections have been re-energised.

Field crews have repaired 91.45 km of the 171.10 km of damaged 33 kV lines, 299.52 km of the 645.91 km of damaged 11 kV lines and 225.65 km of the 647.08 km of damaged low-tension (LT) lines. Of the eight damaged power transformers, five have been restored, along with 225 distribution transformers.

To handle the workload, authorities have deployed 709 specialised emergency response teams comprising 8,317 skilled personnel. A preliminary assessment by APEPDCL estimates the current financial loss to power infrastructure at ₹29.69 crore. The utility has described the estimate as preliminary.

In power distribution, 33 kV and 11 kV feeders carry electricity from sub-stations to local areas, while low-tension lines connect homes and businesses. Damage to any part of this chain can interrupt supply to a whole feeder or locality. Restoration therefore requires sub-stations, feeders, lines and transformers to be repaired and tested before supply can be resumed reliably.

The restoration figures indicate that while a majority of villages and a large share of consumers have power again, substantial work remains. More than 11 lakh non-agricultural connections and about 69,500 agricultural connections are yet to be restored, based on the figures released. Several sub-stations, feeders and hundreds of kilometres of lines also remain to be repaired.

Officials have advised residents to maintain a safe distance from snapped overhead cables, fallen electricity poles and damaged electrical equipment. Citizens facing power disruptions or potential electrical hazards should report them immediately through the official toll-free helpline 1912.

The restoration effort involves coordination across districts and technical teams. APEPDCL has not indicated a timeline for completing the remaining work in the information released so far. The loss estimate is preliminary. The information released by APEPDCL focuses on the power sector and does not provide details of damage to other infrastructure or of casualties.