Cyclone Arnab: APEPDCL opens 41 control rooms, keeps 4,056 workers ready to restore power

APEPDCL staff repair damaged cables to restore power supply in Visakhapatnam. The utility has kept 4,056 personnel ready for restoration work as Cyclone Arnab approaches. File | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement The Andhra Pradesh Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (APEPDCL) has stepped up its preparedness for Cyclone Arnab and is concentrating on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema, Godavari and Kakinada districts, towards which the storm is expected to make landfall.Following the India Meteorological Department (IMD)’s warning about Cyclone Arnab over the east-central and adjoining south-east Bay of Bengal, the utility has mobilised personnel, machinery and electrical materials to minimise disruptions and speed up power restoration in affected areas.30 divisional control roomsAPEPDCL has opened 30 divisional control rooms, in addition to 11 circle-level control rooms, to monitor the situation and coordinate emergency response. Kakinada and East Godavari have three divisional control rooms each, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema has two.Round-the-clock cellA separate cell has been established at the corporate office to coordinate manpower deployment round the clock under the supervision of the Chief General Manager (Operations and Customer Service).APEPDCL CMD I. Prudhvi Tej held a teleconference with senior engineering officials to review cyclone preparedness. The utility has also sought 150 teams of 10 personnel each from the Southern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited (APSPDCL) and requested additional materials from it.4,056 personnel mobilisedThe utility has arranged 394 contractor teams comprising 4,056 personnel for emergency response and restoration work. The available resources include 211 diesel generator sets, 273 pole-drilling machines, 517 power saws and 318 earth movers and cranes.A fleet of 366 departmental and private vehicles has been listed to transport personnel and materials to affected locations. Another 100 mobile handsets have been arranged for communication during emergency operations.Materials in stockAPEPDCL said it had stocks of conductors, cables, distribution transformers and electric poles as of October 25. The inventory includes 425 km of 100 sq. mm AAA conductor, 756 km of 55 sq. mm AAA conductor and 496 km of low-tension aerial-bunched cable. Transformer stocks include 749 single-phase 25 kVA units, 681 three-phase 25 kVA units and 396 three-phase 63 kVA units. These will be used to replace damaged electrical equipment and restore supply.“We have strengthened our preparedness with control rooms, manpower, machinery and essential materials to respond promptly to cyclone-related disruptions and restore power supply in affected areas,” Mr. Prudhvi Tej told The Hindu.Helpline 1912People can report power supply problems on the helpline 1912. The IMD expects Cyclone Arnab to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, with winds of 115 to 125 kmph gusting to 140 kmph.Lessons from HudhudCyclone Hudhud crossed the coast at Visakhapatnam in October 2014 and damaged 5,727 electric poles and transformers in four north Andhra districts. By the next day it had claimed 21 lives. The power distribution companies deployed over 5,000 employees and hired 1,000 more people to restore supply. Published - October 26, 2026 12:47 pm IST