Cyclone Arnab leaves parts of Visakhapatnam in darkness - The HinduUpdated - October 27, 2026 11:44 pm IST - VISAKHAPATNAMVehicles navigate a waterlogged Railway Station Road in Visakhapatnam amid heavy rain on Tuesday. K R Deepak | Photo Credit: KR DEEPAKProlonged power interruptions following ‘Cyclone Arnab’ have caused considerable hardship to residents in several parts of Visakhapatnam, with people in Kancharapalem and Akkayyapalem reporting outages lasting several hours.According to complaints by residents of Kancharapalem, they said: “Electricity supply was disrupted since 5 a.m. on October 27, leaving several neighbourhoods, including Kapparada, Babuji Nagar, Indira Nagar, Sanjeevayya Colony and adjoining hill-slope settlements, without power for nearly 18 hours.”The prolonged outage added to the anxiety of people living in vulnerable hillside areas amid the cyclone threat. The absence of electricity affected routine activities, with elderly persons, children and other residents facing difficulties.Residents alleged that repeated attempts to contact the electricity department had failed to elicit a response. They also complained that the toll-free helpline and local electricity office telephone numbers were not functioning effectively, leaving them uncertain about when the power supply would be restored.Similar complaints emerged from Akkayyapalem, Madhurawada and a few other localities, where residents reported power outages for several hours on Tuesday. They alleged that complaints had not resulted in prompt action and appealed to officials to expedite restoration work.The outages have also raised questions among residents about the resilience of the city’s power distribution network during extreme weather events. Residents sought clarity on the proposed underground cabling works, reportedly estimated at ₹800 crore, and the extent to which such infrastructure had been implemented in the affected localities.Officials pointed out that cyclone-related damage to electrical lines, poles and distribution equipment can complicate restoration works, particularly when strong winds and heavy rainfall hamper field operations. However, the precise causes of the reported outages and the status of restoration in the affected neighbourhoods could not be independently confirmed.Residents urged the electricity authorities to deploy adequate field staff, improve grievance-response mechanisms and restore supply at the earliest. They also called for transparent communication on repair timelines to help households cope with the continuing disruption.When contacted, an EPDCL official said, “Most of our focus including that of the higher officials and the CMD is on Konaseema and Kakinada districts, where the cyclone has a stronger impact. Power supply will be restored soon.”Published - October 27, 2026 11:43 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }