Precautionary measures at Vijayawada site, temple ghat road closed for devotees

Ghat Road leading to Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam at Indrakeeladri, Vijayawada has been precautionary closed for traffic on 27 October 2026 in view of forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall under the influence of cyclone over Bay of Bengal. The temple authorities have advised devotees to use the Mahamandapam route to reach the temple. | Photo credit: GN Rao

In view of the orange alert issued for NTR district due to “very severe cyclonic storm” Arnab, city authorities in Vijayawada have started removing large piles and alerting people living in low-lying areas near Budameru river of possible downpour.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the district on October 27 and 28. A two-day holiday has been declared for schools in NTR district.

Cyclone Arnab LIVE updates

In Indrakeeladri, the town that houses the famous temple of Goddess Kanaka Durga, the ghat roads were closed for traffic on October 27 as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of devotees. The temple area often witnesses rock slides, the latest being reported last month.

Temple Executive Director VK Seena Naik said devotees visiting the temple for darshan of the goddess will not be allowed to use the toad ghat. The Mahamandapam road will be the only permitted access road for devotees visiting the temple.

The NTR district administration on Tuesday set up a command room in the collectorate to monitor the cyclone situation, while the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) set up 30 rehabilitation centers to shift people from cyclone-hit areas.

As of 10:30 a.m., neither the city nor the district had recorded any precipitation.

Published – 27 Oct 2026 11:08 IST