As very severe cyclonic storm “Arnab” closes in on the Andhra Pradesh coast, the district administration has identified 37 villages in 11 mandals where 10,176 households are likely to be affected. It has readied 54 relief camps that can together accommodate 31,405 people, according to details provided by the district administration.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin based on 5.30 a.m. on Tuesday that the system lay over the west-central Bay of Bengal, about 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. It moved nearly westwards at 22 kmph during the preceding six hours. It is expected to move west-northwest until Tuesday (October 27, 2026) evening, then turn northwestwards.
It 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.
Bheemunipatnam has the largest number of households at risk, 4,120 in six villages, followed by Gopalapatnam (2,080 in six villages) and Gajuwaka (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 most 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 they 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.
According to the details, the Revenue Department has been asked to identify vulnerable habitations and keep cyclone shelters ready. GVMC is clearing major drains and marking waterlogging spots. The Medical and Health Department has been told 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.
Crops, houses and livestock
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 at risk. Mulberry gardens on 10 hectares in six villages, belonging to eight farmers, may also be hit. 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.
Resources
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, 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. 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 identified one vulnerable road, 50 km long, and two weak bridges or culverts. The Rural Water Supply Department has marked 16 water tankers for emergency use. The Civil Supplies Department has 11 MLS points, 642 fair price shops and 59 gas agencies.
The Women Development and Child Welfare Department has registered 61,893 children, 7,929 lactating women and 8,911 pregnant women.
Reservoirs
As of 10 a.m. on Monday, no alert had been issued for any of the four reservoirs in the district. The water level was 7.5 ft below the full reservoir level (FRL) at Meghadrigedda, 3 ft below at Gambhiramgedda, 27 ft below at Raiwada and 17.45 ft below at Thatipudi.
Helplines
Collector’s Office: 0891-2590100, 0891-2590102
GVMC (toll-free): 1800 4250 0009; WhatsApp: 9014218870
APEPDCL: 7382299975
Medical: 8985181874, 9398786818
Fire: 101, 112, 0891-2563582
Fisheries: 9491808388
RDO Office, Visakhapatnam: 0891-2562977
RDO Office, Bheemunipatnam: 8309020063