Heavy rains damage 613 km of roads in Andhra Pradesh, ₹251 crore repair bill
Synopsis
A Bay of Bengal Deep Depression has carved through Andhra Pradesh's road network, damaging 613 km of roads across 13 districts and leaving a ₹251 crore repair bill. Srikakulam alone accounts for 356 km of damage — more than half the statewide toll — exposing the chronic vulnerability of coastal Andhra's infrastructure to monsoon weather systems.
Key Takeaways
A Deep Depression in the Bay of Bengal damaged 613 km of roads across Andhra Pradesh as of 7 am, 25 September 2026 .
Srikakulam district bore the worst damage, with 356 km of roads affected.
Roads were washed away at 4 locations ; cross-drainage works damaged at 78 locations , with restoration begun at 37 sites.
Estimated repair cost: ₹26.95 crore for temporary fixes and ₹224.73 crore for permanent restoration.
The state has deployed 550 JCBs , 596 power saws , and set up 78 control rooms for emergency response.
614 locations have been identified as vulnerable or accident-prone and placed under heightened watch.
Heavy rains triggered by a Deep Depression in the Bay of Bengal have damaged 613 km of roads across Andhra Pradesh as of 7 am on Thursday, 25 September 2026, Roads and Buildings Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy confirmed after a review meeting with department officials. The weather system made landfall late on Wednesday night, and coastal districts continued to bear heavy rainfall even after the depression crossed the coast.
Extent of Damage
Srikakulam district recorded the worst road damage, with 356 km of roads affected — more than half the statewide total. Other severely hit districts include Parvathipuram-Manyam, Vizianagaram, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Anantapur, Kurnool, and Nandyal. Roads were completely washed away at four locations due to deep crater formation, while cross-drainage (CD) works were damaged at 78 locations. Trees fell on roads at 11 spots, all of which have since been cleared, and traffic disruptions were reported at 23 locations, with congestion resolved at 14 of them.
Cost of Restoration
Preliminary estimates place the repair bill at approximately ₹26.95 crore for temporary fixes and ₹224.73 crore for permanent restoration — a combined outlay of around ₹251.68 crore. The scale of financial exposure underscores the severity of what officials have described as one of the more damaging rain events on state road infrastructure in recent memory.
Government Response and Preparedness
Minister Janardhan Reddy directed R&B Department officials to remain on high alert as rains persisted. The department has established 78 control rooms statewide and appointed nodal officers for round-the-clock monitoring. Restoration work has already been initiated at 37 of the 78 damaged CD works sites. The state has also pre-positioned 550 JCBs and 596 power saws for rapid clearance of fallen trees and landslide debris. Toll-free helpline services have been activated in major corporations to assist citizens.
'We are continuously assessing ground-level conditions by holding 36 joint coordination meetings with departments affiliated with the R&B wing. We have set up toll-free services in major corporations to provide round-the-clock assistance,' Janardhan Reddy said.
Vulnerable Locations Under Watch
The R&B Department has flagged 614 locations across Andhra Pradesh as vulnerable or accident-prone, which will be under intensified surveillance as the weather system's residual effects continue. This comes amid a broader pattern of escalating monsoon damage to road infrastructure in coastal Andhra, where low-lying districts face recurring exposure to Bay of Bengal weather systems during the June-October period.
Point of View
Not a ceiling — post-depression assessments in coastal Andhra have historically revised upward as field teams reach remote stretches. Srikakulam's outsized share of damage (356 of 613 km) reflects a well-documented pattern: the district sits at the northern tip of a coastline that funnels Bay of Bengal systems inland with little natural buffer. What is less discussed is the structural underfunding of drainage infrastructure in this corridor, which turns moderate rainfall events into road-destroying flash-runoffs. The 78 control rooms and 36 coordination meetings signal a capable short-term response; the harder accountability question is whether the ₹224 crore permanent-restoration allocation will actually flow before the next monsoon season.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much road damage did Andhra Pradesh suffer due to the Bay of Bengal Deep Depression?
Heavy rains from the Deep Depression damaged 613 km of roads across Andhra Pradesh as of 7 am on 25 September 2026 , according to Roads and Buildings Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy. The damage spans 13 districts, with Srikakulam alone accounting for 356 km.
What is the estimated cost to repair the rain-damaged roads in Andhra Pradesh?
Estimates put the cost at approximately ₹26.95 crore for temporary repairs and ₹224.73 crore for permanent restoration, totalling around ₹251.68 crore . These are preliminary figures and may be revised as assessment continues.
Which districts in Andhra Pradesh were worst affected by the Deep Depression?
Srikakulam was the worst-hit district, with 356 km of roads damaged. Other affected districts include Parvathipuram-Manyam, Vizianagaram, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli, Kakinada, East Godavari, Ambedkar Konaseema, West Godavari, Anantapur, Kurnool, and Nandyal.
What emergency measures has the Andhra Pradesh government deployed?
The R&B Department has set up 78 control rooms , deployed 550 JCBs and 596 power saws , and activated toll-free helplines in major corporations. Nodal officers have been appointed and 36 joint coordination meetings held with affiliated departments. Restoration work has already begun at 37 of the 78 damaged drainage sites.
Has the Deep Depression that caused the Andhra Pradesh flooding made landfall?
Yes, the Deep Depression crossed the coast late on Wednesday night, 24 September 2026 . However, heavy rainfall continued to lash coastal Andhra Pradesh into Thursday, prolonging damage to road infrastructure across multiple districts.
