Bhimavaram (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 29 Andhra Pradesh Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar on Thursday said here in West Godavari district that the very severe cyclonic storm Arnab has inflicted a loss of at least Rs 500 crore to the state’s electricity infrastructure.
The Energy Minister observed that West Godavari district was one of the most impacted regions, where 3,700 power poles were uprooted.
“The cyclone has caused preliminary losses estimated at approximately Rs 500 crore to the state’s electricity infrastructure. A comprehensive assessment would provide a clearer picture of the extent of the damage,” Kumar said in a press release.
Around 1,700 personnel were engaged in power restoration work, even as an additional 500 employees were being mobilised from the state’s three power distribution companies.
Another 500 electricity personnel from Telangana have joined the restoration operations, he said.
“The government was ensuring that there was no shortage of manpower, funds or equipment for the restoration effort. Officials have been directed to replace damaged electricity poles, repair snapped conductors and restore damaged transformers on a priority basis,” said Kumar.
Due to the natural calamity, power supply was disrupted in nearly 400 villages. Several villages are still without power, and cellular telephony is affected at multiple places.
Narsapur and its surrounding villages, close to the point where the cyclone crossed the coast, have sustained extensive damage to the electricity network, the minister observed.
Special teams were working to restore the damaged infrastructure, with additional poles, transformers and other essential materials being deployed wherever required, he said.
Kumar instructed officials to redeploy teams to other affected locations immediately after completing work in one area to accelerate the restoration process.
Further, he underscored that the government was working to restore electricity supply in cyclone-affected areas within 24 hours, with emergency repair operations being intensified across the affected districts.
The Minister inspected cyclone-hit areas in Palakollu, Bhimavaram and Narsapur, where electricity infrastructure, roads and agricultural fields have suffered damage following cyclone Arnab.
He subsequently reviewed the restoration measures and relief operations with officials at the West Godavari district collectorate in Bhimavaram.
Assuring affected residents of the government’s support, Kumar said all necessary measures were being taken to restore essential services and provide relief to affected families.
(PTI News)
