Visakhapatnam Collector Orders Round-the-Clock Flood Relief as Rain Toll Mounts

Visakhapatnam District Collector M. Abhishikth Kishore on Thursday instructed officials across departments to remain on high alert and accelerate relief, rescue and rehabilitation work as heavy rain caused by a deep depression continued to lash the district.

Between 8.30 a.m. on September 21 and 6 p.m. on September 24, the district recorded a cumulative average rainfall of 321.6 mm.

Chairing a teleconference under the District Disaster Management Authority with officials from the Revenue, Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), Police, Fire, Electricity and Medical departments, the Collector asked them to monitor the situation round the clock and coordinate closely. He later inspected ground conditions in the evening and alerted field staff.

Officials were told to focus on low-lying and vulnerable areas and keep residents there informed of the risks. The GVMC and the electricity department were directed to clear fallen trees and restore power supply without delay. Revenue officials were asked to continue shifting affected families to rehabilitation centres in cyclone shelters and community halls, where shelter, food, drinking water and emergency medical care are arranged.

According to officials, 117 of the 129 rain-related complaints received by the GVMC have been resolved, and 73 fallen trees have been removed from roads to restore traffic. The APEPDCL reported that 22 electricity feeders were affected and 2.46 km of 11-kV conductor wire was damaged and later repaired.

Preliminary assessments found four hectares of banana crop damaged in Anandapuram and Bheemunipatnam mandals, and 11 houses damaged — four fully and seven partially. About 55 km of Roads and Buildings Department roads were also affected.

The Collector ordered immediate field-level assessments of crop and property damage and asked officials to prioritise repairs to damaged roads and electricity infrastructure.

Appealing to the public, he urged residents to stay indoors unless it was essential to step out until the rain and the impact of the depression subsided fully. He advised people to avoid overflowing canals and streams, low-lying areas, landslide-prone zones, electric poles and snapped power lines, and to alert the administration promptly in an emergency.

For assistance, residents can contact the Collectorate control room at 0891-2590100 or 0891-2590102, the GVMC toll-free number 1800-425-00009 or its WhatsApp helpline 9014218870, the APEPDCL helpline 7382299975, medical emergency numbers 8331093136 and 9010292576, and Fire Services at 101 or 0891-2563582. The RDOs of Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam can be reached at 0891-2562977 and 9014093139, respectively.