Women carrying umbrellas crossed a rainy road in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) established a control room at the City Operations Centre (COC) with a helpline (180042500009), responding to heavy rain forecasts due to a low-pressure system over the Bay of Bengal. Municipal Commissioner P. Sampath Kumar announced on August 29 that the control room, managed by an Additional Commissioner-rank officer, will operate round the clock until August 31 to handle rain-related complaints.
Commissioner Kumar has directed officials to prevent any loss of property or lives, particularly alerting those in hill areas. He emphasized the need for regular debris clearance from water channels and secure closure of manholes. Additionally, he highlighted the importance of monitoring water levels in service reservoirs to ensure uninterrupted drinking water supply.
The Horticulture Department has been instructed to have equipment ready for clearing fallen trees and debris blocking roads. Kumar also called for relocating residents from dilapidated buildings to rehabilitation centers when necessary. Zonal Commissioners were tasked with forming taskforce teams working in shifts to address emergencies.
Since Wednesday night, moderate rainfall has resulted in water-logged roads and power outages in regions like Gajuwaka, Pendurthi, and Scindhia. Severe winds caused fallen trees and broken branches to obstruct several roads. Between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on August 29, areas such as Kapuluppada, Bheemunipatnam, Arilova, Maharanipeta, Madhurawada, and Gopalapatnam Pedagantyada experienced over 10 mm of rainfall, according to the Andhra Pradesh State Development Planning Society.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/gvmc-sets-up-control-room-in-view-of-heavy-rain-forecast/article68582092.ece
Category : Visakhapatnam
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