Officials of the Visakhapatnam district administration have begun restoration and rehabilitation works in areas affected by the heavy rains and strong winds caused by Cyclone Montha on Wednesday.
The works include clearing of uprooted trees, de-silting of drains, repairing culverts, restoring damaged electric poles and carrying out sanitation works. Meanwhile, localities which were inundated are now gradually returning to normalcy.
Outskirts such as Malkapuram, Pendurthi, Anandapuram, and Bheemunipatnam were the worst-affected, with overflowing tanks, canals flooding, houses and underpasses submerged and traffic and connectivity disrupted.
In Nagamayapalem, more than 30 families were displaced after floodwaters entered their homes. Bheemunipatnam MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, along with revenue officials, visited the shelter camp on a boat, and distributed essentials. In AKC Colony at Malkapuram, water stagnation continues, as the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) teams work to pump out the remaining water.
At the fishing harbour, several boats were reported partially damaged or submerged. MLA Ch. Vamsikrishna Srinivas inspected the area and directed officials to take necessary measures. Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao also inspected the rehabilitation centres across the city.
According to GVMC authorities, 13 rehabilitation centres are operating in the city, providing shelter to 138 people. As many as 134 trees have fallen due to the impact of the cyclone, water stagnation was reported at 28 places and wall collapses occurred at eight places. GVMC Commissioner Ketan Garg monitored the operations from the Command & Control Centre, which functioned the entire night.
District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad on Wednesday directed officials to carefully assess the damages caused by Cyclone Montha. While reviewing the relief and restoration measures post the cyclone, the Collector emphasised the need to expedite and restore normalcy across the district. He instructed the GVMC officials to focus on sanitation, chlorination of water sources, filling potholes on damaged roads, and restoring routes affected by landslides.
The Collector further directed officials to conduct a careful assessment of the damages and record details of fully and partially damaged houses. He also instructed officials to prepare reports on losses to crop, livestock, damage to boats, and infrastructure such as panchayat raj buildings, R&B roads, minor irrigation works, and school buildings.
The Collector said: “The government has announced provision of 25 kg rice, one kg red gram dal, one litre of oil, one kg onions, one kg potatoes, and one kg sugar to be provided to families who lost their homes. Fishermen who could not venture out to sea will be given 50 kg rice.”
The government has announced a cash assistance of ₹1,000 per person and up to ₹3,000 per family for people returning home from relief camps. The Collector asked the authorities to prepare a list of beneficiaries. All the government, private, and aided schools and anganwadis in Visakhapatnam will remain closed on October 30.
As of Wednesday evening, 1,516 persons were rehabilitated across 16 medical camps. Across various mandals 22 houses were damaged.
Published – October 29, 2025 08:50 pm IST
