Relief work begins in Visakhapatnam; first flood warning on Nagavali and Vamsadhara

Employees of the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation clear a fallen tree near the Cyclone Warning Centre. | Photo credit: KR Deepak

Relief and restoration work began in Visakhapatnam and neighboring districts on Friday (September 25, 2026), a day after a deep depression crossed north coastal Andhra. The system brought heavy rain, strong winds and widespread disruption.

A deep depression crossed the coast southwest of Kalingapatnam between 11 pm on Wednesday and 1 am on Thursday. It was expected to gradually weaken during Friday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) in Visakhapatnam has intensified the removal of fallen trees, damaged electric poles and waterlogged roads. Of the 112 trees that fell across the city, 102 had been removed by Friday and the rest cleared. City crews also worked to clear roads and remove debris to restore normal traffic.

The rain eased and the water that had accumulated on several roads gradually receded. Several service roads were damaged by heavy rain and water runoff. Preliminary assessments showed that nearly 12 km of GVMC roads were damaged.

High alert has been sounded in Alluri Sitharama Raju district in view of overflowing streams and possibility of further disturbance in agency areas. The ghat road in Koyyuru mandal, which was damaged by landslides, has been restored by authorities and officials have continued to monitor vulnerable stretches and water crossings.

The flood situation in Srikakulam district has come under close watch following heavy inflows into the Nagavali and Vamsadhara rivers.

After Mudasarla came Gambheeram. A reservoir that overflowed during Visakhapatnam’s long drought is once again overflowing in a city that spent the summer buying water by tanker.

Video: V. Raju pic.twitter.com/e6IPXhwQ25

— The Hindu – Andhra Pradesh (@THAndhra) September 25, 2026

Home Minister V. Anitha has asked officials to closely monitor the rising water level and to maintain close coordination with Odisha authorities to monitor flood flows, especially in upstream areas.

The first flood warning was issued at Gotta barrage on Vamsadhara and Narayanapuram anicut on Nagavali after the tide rose.

Officials in flood-prone mandals have been asked to maintain round-the-clock vigil and take precautionary measures. Authorities have been instructed to move people from low-lying areas to safer places whenever necessary.

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have already been deployed in the affected districts as a precautionary measure.

Ms. Anitha appealed to the people to follow the advice issued by the local administration and the state government. It warned people against entering floodwaters to swim or fish, especially near rivers, streams, dams and other bodies of water where flow could suddenly increase.

Published – 25 Sep 2026 14:21 IST