Cyclone Arnab: Heavy inflows swell rivers across three North Andhra districts

Cyclone Arnab’s heavy rain pushed all major rivers, smaller streams, and seasonal channels across North Andhra into spate. Their catchments filled quickly, increasing water levels and threatening crossings, bridges, and low-lying communities.

At the Narayanpur Anicut, the Nagavali river delivered 38,100 cusecs, and officials released a similar volume downstream. The old bridge in Srikakulam town was in spate. The Gotta barrage on the Vamsadhara received 6,544 cusecs. These surges came from intense rain across the districts and upstream catchments.

Srikakulam recorded 4,094.2 mm between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, compared with a normal average of 136.5 mm. Officials said the situation remained under control, while sensitive-area residents were moved to safety. Rivers including the Suvarnamukhi and Vegavati were still rising, but officials reported no immediate flood threat in Parvatipuram, Seethanagaram, or Bobbili. Monitoring and departmental response continued.

A very severe cyclonic storm is a powerful rotating tropical storm with sustained winds of 118–166 kilometres per hour. It can bring destructive winds and intense rain. The category measures wind strength, not rainfall.

Storm Arnab crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam early Wednesday. Moist air from the warm sea rose inside the storm, cooled, and condensed into towering rain clouds. Thunderstorm bands repeatedly fed rain into the same catchments, swelling rivers. Rainfall also spread upstream, where saturated soil and steep channels sent water quickly downstream.

Between Tuesday 8 a.m. and Wednesday 8 a.m., Srikakulam recorded 4,094.2 millimetres, versus 136.5 millimetres normally. The Narayanpur Anicut received 38,100 cusecs, while the Gotta barrage received 6,544 cusecs. Such inflows can overwhelm bridges and low areas, so authorities shifted residents and monitored rivers.

The reported rainfall was extraordinary: 4,094.2 millimetres fell in Srikakulam during one 24-hour period. Normal rainfall is 136.5 millimetres, so the storm delivered almost 30 times the usual amount.

That means rainfall exceeded the normal figure by about 3,957.7 millimetres. Such a huge volume quickly increased water flowing into rivers and streams across the district. The Vamsadhara, Nagavali, Mahindra Tanaya, and Bahuda rivers all received heavier inflows.

The impact was visible at key water structures. The Narayanpur Anicut on the Nagavali received 38,100 cusecs, while the Gotta barrage on the Vamsadhara received 6,544 cusecs. Water released downstream put Srikakulam’s old Nagavali bridge in spate. Officials said precautions were working, but the rainfall explains the widespread river swelling.

A river’s catchment is the whole land area that collects rain and drains it into that river. Its upstream areas are places farther along the river’s course, closer to its source. Rain there flows downhill through soil, streams, and tributaries. This can raise downstream water levels even when local skies are clear.

After Cyclone Arnab, heavy rain fell across Srikakulam and upstream catchments. Water feeding the Nagavali raised the Narayanpur Anicut’s inflow to 38,100 cusecs. The Irrigation Department released a similar amount downstream, putting Srikakulam town’s old bridge over the river in spate.

The same process affected the Vamsadhara: the Gotta barrage received 6,544 cusecs early Wednesday. Srikakulam recorded 4,094.2 millimetres between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning, against a normal average of 136.5 millimetres. These figures show why officials monitor rainfall and rivers across the entire drainage area. They also shift residents from sensitive locations and release water carefully.

Cusecs measure water flow. One cusec means one cubic foot of water passing a point each second. So, 38,100 cusecs describes a flow rate, not the total water received over a whole day.

After intense rain, water from the Nagavali River’s drainage area surged into the Narayanpur Anicut. Srikakulam received 4,094.2 mm of rain between Tuesday and Wednesday morning, against a normal average of 136.5 mm. The Irrigation Department released a similar quantity downstream to manage the surge.

This measurement shows the pressure on the river system. It helps officials decide when to release water, issue warnings, or move residents. The old bridge over the Nagavali in Srikakulam was already in spate. Officials said the situation remained under control, and people from sensitive areas were moved to safety.

The Narayanpur Anicut received 38,100 cusecs, so officials released a similar amount downstream to manage the surge. People in sensitive areas were moved because rivers and streams were rising rapidly after extreme rainfall, reducing their exposure to possible flooding.

An anicut is a low barrier across a river that controls water movement. Releasing water when inflows rise helps handle the pressure and protects nearby areas, while relocating residents creates distance from flood-prone zones.

After Arnab, Srikakulam recorded 4,094.2 mm between Tuesday 8 a.m. and Wednesday 8 a.m., compared with a normal average of 136.5 mm. The Irrigation Department released water from the Nagavali anicut, while authorities monitored rivers including Vamsadhara, Suvarnamukhi and Vegavati. Officials said the situation remained under control, but continued monitoring was necessary.

A coastal cyclone is powered by warm ocean water. Heat makes seawater evaporate; rising moist air releases energy as it cools, lowering pressure and pulling in faster winds. The spinning storm can carry enormous moisture inland, where it falls as intense rain.

During Cyclone Arnab, warm, moisture-filled air helped produce a very severe storm crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam. From Tuesday morning to Wednesday morning, Srikakulam recorded 4,094.2 millimetres of rain, far above its normal 136.5 millimetres. That runoff, plus water arriving from upstream catchments, swelled rivers and streams.

Flooding happens when rainfall exceeds the ground and river channels’ capacity. The Narayanpur Anicut on the Nagavali received 38,100 cusecs, while the Gotta barrage on the Vamsadhara received 6,544 cusecs. Officials moved residents from sensitive areas, showing the practical response: monitor rivers, release water carefully, and shift people before rising water reaches homes.