The people of Vizianagaram, a city and district headquarters of Vizianagaram district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, which has been facing severe drought and acute shortage of drinking water, are looking forward to the cyclone.

Vizianagaram city faces unprecedented water crisis which has never been witnessed in the last 50 years. The city gets only 15 Million Liters per Day as against the requirement of 45 MLD for 4 lakh population. All most all rivers including Champavati, Jhanjhavati, tributaries and tanks dried up completely, reported The Hindu.

In this background, the people are wholeheartedly welcoming the severe cyclonic storm Fani which entails huge rainfall although nature’s fury is expected to create havoc in some parts of the district.

‘Cyclone is a blessing in disguise for the people of Vizianagaram. Groundwater may get recharged with the expected rainfall in couple of days. Apartment dwellers who depend on groundwater mostly are eagerly waiting for downpour,’ said DSP Lingam, a resident of Cantonment.

Vizianagaram Collector M.Hari Jawaharlal who reviewed the cyclone said that the situation hoped that the tanks will be filled up with the anticipated rains. ‘We can overcome drinking water crisis in villages and other parts of the district if the district gets sufficient rainfall in next couple of days. We directed the departments concerned to take necessary steps for the optimum utilisation of drinking water,’ he added.

Meanwhile, he visited various villages Chepala Kancheru, Mukkam, Chintapalli and other villages which were close to sea coast and reviewed the prepardness of the administration to face Fani cyclone.

He said that the impact would be more on Pusapati Rega, Bhogapuram, Cheepurupalli, Denkada, Garividi, Gurla and Nellimarla mandals. ‘Titli cyclone caused unprecedented damage in villagers of various mandals including Gumma Lakshmipuram, Jiyyammavalasa and Komarada mandals compared to coastal areas. In this back ground, we did not want to take any chance. Control rooms were set up in all mandals and special teams would monitor the situation carefully,’ he said.

Vizianagaram Superintendent of Police A.R.Damodar said that the police department would take adequate steps to clear the traffic on national highway and State highways. He said that Coast Guard, Marine, NDRF, fire services and other departments would work with tandem to take up relief and rescue operations immediately in case of emergency with the impact of Fani cyclone.