AP CM Naidu Urges People to Stay Indoors as Cyclone Arnab Threatens Andhra Pradesh Coast
The government machinery was fully prepared to minimise loss of life and property, Naidu said, adding that he was reviewing preparedness with district collectors and officials every hour despite being engaged in election-related work.
The cyclone, placed in the red category, is likely to affect the coast from Srikakulam to Bapatla, with a possible landfall near Yanam, close to Kakinada. Konaseema, Eluru, West Godavari, Manyam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Kakinada districts are expected to face a greater impact, with strong winds and heavy to extremely heavy rainfall.
Rainfall of up to 30 cm is possible in Srikakulam, 28 cm in West Godavari and 23 cm in Visakhapatnam, while several areas may receive more than 10 cm.
Authorities have urged residents of coastal villages, island settlements and flood-prone areas to move to cyclone shelters in view of the possibility of seawater entering low-lying areas.
State- and district-level control rooms are functioning round the clock, with hourly cyclone bulletins being issued.
The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Navy and Coast Guard have been put on alert, while more than 30,000 fishing boats have returned from the sea.
Nearly 5,000 pregnant women have been shifted to primary health centres, community health centres and nearby hospitals.
In Gopalpur, 93 fishing boats belonging to Andhra Pradesh, along with their crews, are safe, the Chief Minister said.
The government has arranged tankers and generators to maintain drinking water supplies and kept around 8,400 personnel ready to respond to power disruptions. Measures have also been taken to address possible flooding in the Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers and restore tanks in case of breaches.
Drones are being used to deliver food and medicines to inundated villages. Arrangements have been made to supply food to children and lactating mothers through Anganwadi centres and ensure the delivery of ration supplies.
Naidu said agricultural crops across 7.16 lakh hectares and horticultural crops covering 16 lakh hectares could be affected.
Technology was being used to assess the likely impact and plan measures to minimise damage, he added.
