Naidu Reviews Cyclone Arnab Situation; Shelters and Teams Deployed
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation arising from Cyclone Arnab through a series of teleconferences with collectors, RTGS officials, and field staff. The review continued through the night, as the state prepared to face the storm's impact on coastal and nearby districts.
On Tuesday night, the Chief Minister kept track of the cyclone's effects, the precautions being taken, and conditions on the ground. The review went on until 1:30 am, and updates continued to reach him at intervals, with fresh instructions issued to officials.
At 6:15 am on Wednesday, Naidu held another teleconference to check on conditions in cyclone-affected areas and the status of relief operations. Officials said the cyclone was crossing the coast. RTGS officials warned that heavy rainfall is likely today and tomorrow due to the storm.
It was reported that trees had fallen in many places and electric poles had collapsed at several locations. As a precautionary step, power supply has been stopped in the affected areas.
The Chief Minister ordered that fallen trees be removed immediately and that electricity be restored once conditions improve. He stressed the need to ensure that tanks and canals do not overflow.
Collectors shared details of relief work in their districts. The Konaseema collector said nearly 6,000 electric poles had fallen there. He noted that rainfall had reduced but strong winds were still blowing.
Earlier, Naidu posted on X that 2,199 cyclone shelters had been identified and a plan had been drawn up to shift people to safer locations. The elderly, children, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women are being given priority. A total of 2,360 pregnant women have so far been moved to medical centres.
Special teams are being deployed in various districts, including 12 NDRF and 10 SDRF teams. Police, fire services, and medical units are engaged in relief efforts, and the Navy and Coast Guard are ready to help. Arrangements for food, drinking water, medicines, and generators are being made. More than 8,400 employees have been put to work to restore power, and control rooms are functioning around the clock.
The Chief Minister has urged people to stay calm, remain alert, and cooperate with the administration. Whenever advised, residents should go to designated shelters without delay. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea until they receive official permission.
Residents should keep essential items handy and keep their phones charged. Unnecessary travel should be avoided, and people should keep away from beaches, riverbanks, flood-hit areas, and fallen power lines. They should stay in secure shelters until the administration confirms the danger has passed.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the extremely severe cyclonic storm Arnab began to strike the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts early Wednesday. The maximum wind speed recorded was 125-135 km per hour, with gusts touching 150 km per hour.