Cyclone Arnab: Heavy inflows swell rivers across three North Andhra districts

Suvarnamukhi river near Seethanagaram in Parvatipuram Manyam district receiving huge inflows due to Cyclone Arnab. | Photo credit: ARRANGEMENT

All major rivers, rivulets, seasonal streams across Srikakulam, Parvatipuram-Manyam and Vizianagaram districts were in flood after their basins received huge inflow of waters under the impact of very violent cyclonic storm Arnab which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on Wednesday morning.

According to data provided by the Srikakulam district administration, the average rainfall under normal conditions is only 136.5 mm, but the district received 4,094.2 mm of rainfall between 8 am on Tuesday and 8 am on Wednesday.

Heavy rainfall in the district and upstream basins has led to increased inflows into the Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Mahindra Tanaya, Bahuda and other rivers.

Narayanpur Anicut on the Nagavali River received 38,100 cusecs of water. The Irrigation Department released a similar amount downstream. The old bridge over Nagavali river in Srikakulam town was in flood with water being released into Narayanpur Anicut.

The Gotta dam on the Vamsadhara river received 6,544 cusecs of water in the wee hours of Wednesday.

Srikakulam District Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar, who visited Polaki and other mandals, told The Hindu that the situation is under control due to precautionary measures taken by the government. He said that the Irrigation, Revenue, Roads and Buildings Departments have been alerted to take necessary action in the flood affected areas.

Rivers like Suvarnamukhi, Vegavati and others are receiving huge inflows of water, but there is no imminent flood threat for Parvatipuram, Seethanagaram, Bobbili and other areas, according to officials.

Vizianagaram Collector S. Ramsundar Reddy said the government was monitoring the flood situation in all rivers and there was no need to worry as people from sensitive areas had been shifted to safe places on Tuesday morning.

Published – 28 Oct 2026 21:06 IST