Reliance Foundation is helping retrieve over 180 fishing boats displaced by Cyclone Arnab in the Dr B R Ambedkar Konaseema district. The foundation uses mechanical equipment to move vessels trapped in mud. This effort supports the livelihoods of 10,000 people in the fishing community as they work to restart activities.
Dr B R Ambedkar Konaseema: Responding to the aftermath of Cyclone Arnab, Reliance Foundation is supporting a coordinated effort in the district in the state of Andhra Pradesh to retrieve over 180 boats displaced by the storm and to support the livelihoods of fishing communities.
Cyclone Arnab left a trail of devastation across India’s eastern coast, hitting the livelihoods of thousands in the region.
The livelihoods of the fishing communities at the Odalarevu and Sakhinetipalli landing centres in the district have been severely affected, as several of their fishing boats were stuck in accumulated mud, partially or fully submerged, while some had been displaced or piled against one another in certain locations.
The Reliance Foundation teams did an assessment and decided to respond through a mechanical-retrieval intervention, upholding the organization’s We Care commitment and intervening in real-time.
Preliminary assessments at Odalarevu and Sakhinetipalli fishing landing centres in Allavaram Mandal found around 186 fishing boats affected when severe weather conditions displaced vessels from their moorings, trapping them in canals, mudflats and adjoining landing areas. Several boats were partially submerged or entangled, making manual retrieval difficult and potentially unsafe. Boats weighing between approximately five and ten tonnes are currently located in areas affected by mud accumulation, unstable ground conditions, and restricted access.
Reliance Foundation is working with the Department of Fisheries and Government Authorities in Allavaram Mandal, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema district to facilitate the retrieval and safe repositioning of the affected boats through suitable mechanical lifting equipment.
The team will be working closely with members of the local fishing community to identify boats, confirm their locations, and then retrieve or reposition boats in a planned sequence, with crane operators in a controlled work area. Retrieval operations are being carefully planned with specialised equipment and adherence to safety standards.
This intervention will directly and indirectly impact the livelihoods of around 10,000 people of the fishing community in the region.
Reliance Foundation will recover and safely reposition boats that have been identified by their owners and are clearly visible for retrieval; reduce the risk of additional damage while boats remain trapped; enable owners to assess repair requirements; and support fishing households in restarting livelihood activities as soon as repairs and other conditions permit.
Reliance Foundation has been responding to communities during times of disaster across the country and will continue to stand by the people with need-based interventions to support relief, response, and recovery.