Power Restoration Top Priority: CM Chandrababu Naidu Leads War-Footing Recovery After Cyclone Arnab
CM Chandrababu Naidu leads war-footing efforts to restore electricity and roads after Cyclone Arnab hits Andhra Pradesh.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has shifted the state administration into high gear, declaring the restoration of power supply as the top priority in regions devastated by Cyclone Arnab. For the past four days, the Chief Minister has been personally monitoring relief operations, combining field visits with intensive teleconferences and video reviews to ensure that aid reaches every affected citizen.
A Mission to Restore Normalcy
Before departing for Mogalthur on Friday, CM Naidu conducted a rigorous review of the ongoing restoration efforts. He has made it clear that he will not rest until assistance reaches the last person impacted by the storm. To speed up the process, the state has mobilized support from other states to accelerate the return of electricity to darkened villages.
The Chief Minister's direct engagement with field personnel has transformed the recovery process into a "war footing" operation, with government teams working round-the-clock to repair communication networks, clear roads, and stabilize the power grid.
The Power Grid: Current Status
The recovery of the electricity infrastructure is well underway, though challenges remain in the hardest-hit areas. Under the APEPDCL service area, the progress is as follows:
- Village Restoration: Power has been restored to 4,881 out of 5,404 affected villages.
- Substations: 513 of 552 affected substations are now operational, marking a 93% restoration rate, with 39 still requiring work.
- District Success: Electricity is fully restored in all affected villages across Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Anakapalli, Kakinada, and Eluru.
- Feeders: 489 of 509 affected 33 kV feeders and 2,355 of 2,958 affected 11 kV feeders are back online.
However, the situation remains critical in some pockets. In Konaseema, only 87 of 316 villages have power, and in West Godavari, 154 of 318 villages have been restored. Combined, 393 villages in these two districts are still waiting for electricity. Meanwhile, in the Krishna district under APCPDCL, 867 of 915 villages have regained power.
Communication and Infrastructure Repairs
Beyond electricity, the state is battling to bring back connectivity and mobility:
Mobile Networks
Communication services are gradually returning. Out of 1,045 damaged mobile towers, 661 have been restored, while 384 towers remain offline.
Roads and Transport
The cyclone caused significant damage to the state's road network, affecting 2,425.45 kilometres of R&B roads. To clear the way for relief:
- All 2,270 fallen trees on R&B roads have been removed, including 1,334 trees in Konaseema alone.
- Of the 137 locations where traffic was disrupted, connectivity has been restored at 119.
- In Srikakulam, traffic is currently limited to one side of the road at one location due to flowing water.
Water Resources
The Water Resources Department has completed temporary restorations at all 100 affected locations, which include 22 canals and 78 tanks.
Agricultural Blow and Financial Aid
The cyclone has left a trail of destruction across the state's farmland. Approximately 3,52,254 hectares of agricultural crops across 16 districts were submerged, while 23,211 hectares of horticultural crops were affected.
Chief Minister Naidu stated that the government is preparing a comprehensive report on the ground situation to present to Central teams, who are expected to visit the state soon to assess the damage and secure Central assistance for the affected farmers.
The Silver Lining: Water Reserves
Despite the destruction, the heavy rainfall between October 26 and 29 brought a significant boost to the state's water security. An estimated 380 TMC of water was generated, leading to several gains:
- Reservoirs: Storage increased by 4.68 TMC, with another 5–6 TMC expected.
- Minor Irrigation: Tanks received 22 TMC, with an additional 8–12 TMC anticipated.
- Groundwater: Reserves have increased by approximately 44 TMC.
Looking ahead, inflow forecasts for the next five days predict approximately 12.01 TMC into the Madduvalasa Reservoir and 16.24 TMC into the Gotta Barrage.