Cyclone Arnab Nears Andhra Coast: 10,176 Households at Risk, 54 Relief Camps Ready

As very severe cyclonic storm Arnab closes in on the Andhra Pradesh coast, the Visakhapatnam district administration has identified 37 villages across 11 mandals where 10,176 households are likely to be affected. Fifty-four relief camps, with a combined capacity of 31,405 people, have been readied, according to details released by the district administration.

In its bulletin based on observations at 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the system lay over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. It had moved nearly westwards at 22 kmph during the preceding six hours. It is expected to continue moving west-northwest until Tuesday evening and then turn northwestwards.

The cyclone is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam, close to Yanam, by Wednesday forenoon as a very severe cyclonic storm. Maximum sustained wind speed is forecast at 115 to 125 kmph, gusting to 140 kmph. The IMD has issued a red alert for Andhra Pradesh.

Among the mandals, Bheemunipatnam has the largest number of households at risk — 4,120 in six villages — followed by Gopalapatnam with 2,080 in six villages and Gajuwaka with 1,438 in three. The other mandals are Seethammadhara (900 households), Visakhapatnam Rural (672), Maharanipeta (550), Pendurthi (220), Pedagantyada (100), Anandapuram (37), Padmanabham (30) and Mulagada (29). Gajuwaka has the highest number of relief camps, at 10.

Eleven Mandal Special Officers have been appointed. They are Revenue Divisional Officers, Special Deputy Collectors and other district-level officers, and will coordinate with Tahsildars, the police, the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) and the medical, fire and other line departments. Control rooms are functioning round the clock at the Collectorate, the Revenue Divisional Officers' offices at Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam, and the Tahsildars' offices in all 11 mandals. The police have set up a 24x7 control room at the office of the Commissioner of Police, with two mobile teams on stand-by.

The Revenue Department has been asked to identify vulnerable habitations and keep cyclone shelters ready. The GVMC is clearing major drains and marking waterlogging spots. The Medical and Health Department has been directed to keep emergency teams, ambulances and medicines ready, with special arrangements for pregnant women. The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has been asked to keep restoration teams on alert. The Fisheries Department is to communicate weather warnings to fishing communities and advise fishermen not to venture into the sea.

The Agriculture Department estimates that 2,048 hectares in 40 villages of four mandals could be affected, involving 3,466 farmers. Horticulture crops on 5,074 hectares in 85 villages are also at risk. Mulberry gardens on 10 hectares in six villages, belonging to eight farmers, may be hit as well. The Housing Department said 1,914 houses in 11 colonies and layouts across six mandals and municipalities could be submerged or damaged.

The vulnerable areas hold 1,793 cattle and buffalo, 3,451 sheep and goats, and 9,145 poultry birds.

On the relief and rescue front, two teams each of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force are stationed in the city. The Fire and Disaster Response Services have six tree-cutting teams (12 personnel), two boat rescue teams (six personnel), three Aska lights and 269 life buoys and life jackets. The Fisheries Department has identified 25 private boats for rescue operations, and 723 fishermen have VHF sets.

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation has 600 buses and 119 hired buses available at its depots. The Irrigation Department has 10 teams and 1,000 sandbags ready. The Roads and Buildings Department has four power saws and has identified two weak bridges or culverts, at Bheemunipatnam and Padmanabham. The Panchayat Raj Department has also flagged vulnerable locations in its jurisdiction, the district administration said.