Heavy Road Damage in Andhra Pradesh as 24 Special Teams Mobilised

Cyclone Arnab has caused significant damage to roads and transport infrastructure across Andhra Pradesh. According to preliminary assessments by officials, approximately 126 kilometres of Roads and Buildings Department roads have been affected. Strong winds uprooted 1,058 trees, of which 859 had been cleared at the time of the report. Road erosion was reported at two locations, while waterlogging and other issues disrupted traffic at 57 places. Officials said problems had been resolved at 20 locations. Engineers estimated that temporary repairs would cost Rs 9.17 crore, while permanent restoration would require Rs 50.27 crore, taking the total estimated expenditure to Rs 59.44 crore. Minister BC Janardhan Reddy directed officials to undertake immediate repairs and coordinate with other departments to restore normal traffic.

National highways were also affected, with 149 trees falling across different stretches. Of these, 75 were reported between Siddhantam near Ravulapalem and Anakapalli, while another 74 fell along highways in the North Andhra coastal region. Authorities cleared the trees and removed a fallen electricity pole. Around 1,350 potholes were identified on national highways, prompting temporary repair work. The National Highways Authority of India deployed 32 route-patrol vehicles, 31 ambulances, 35 cranes, 47 JCB machines, 25 tree-cutting saws and 45 dumpers, along with 24 special response teams. Water pumps were used to clear flooded service roads and underpasses. As a precaution, bus services were suspended in several districts, while services in some other areas operated at reduced capacity. Officials are prioritising road repairs, water removal and debris clearance to restore transport services.