Andhra Pradesh Minister Orders Safety Measures for BC Hostel Students Ahead of Cyclone Arnab

Minister S. Savitha has ordered officials to protect students staying in BC welfare hostels and Gurukulams as Cyclone Arnab looms. She told staff to keep a close watch on health and safety of the pupils. In a telephone call with BC Welfare Department Secretary S. Satyanarayana, Director Mallikarjuna and MJPTBCWREIS Secretary Madhavi Latha, she reviewed the steps being taken. Fifteen districts are already seeing heavy rain, so she asked district officers to stay alert and to coordinate actions from the state headquarters down to each hostel. Officials on election duty were also told to keep in touch with their superiors and follow the same precautions. The minister emphasized that girls living in these facilities need special care. Any students housed in buildings that could be damaged must be moved to safer premises immediately. Only fresh meals and boiled, cooled drinking water are to be served; outside food is banned. Staff must clear any standing water on hostel grounds and keep classrooms and dormitories dry. If a child shows even a mild symptom, she must be taken to the nearest hospital without delay. She instructed that staff leave be cancelled where necessary to ensure enough personnel are on site. Coordination among all levels was stressed as essential to prevent any untoward incidents.

Context

Cyclones frequently bring intense rain and flooding in coastal Andhra Pradesh, making temporary student housing vulnerable. Moving students out of at‑risk structures and providing safe water are standard emergency steps to avoid water‑borne diseases and injuries.