VPA deploys mist cannon vehicles to provide relief from heatwave in Vizag
With temperatures continuing to soar across the city, the Visakhapatnam Port Authority has launched a special cooling initiative by deploying mobile water fogging and mist cannon vehicles at major public locations, including the busy RK Beach Road, to provide relief to residents, tourists, and outdoor workers affected by the ongoing heatwave.
The initiative has been taken up under the port authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme in response to rising daytime temperatures and heavy public movement in key commercial and tourist areas.
According to an official release issued on Sunday, the mist cannon vehicles will operate daily between 11 am and 3 pm, considered the peak hours of heat exposure. The cooling operations will cover prominent stretches from RK Beach to Appughar along the Beach Road corridor, besides the heavily crowded Railway Station Road.
Officials said the specialised vehicles spray ultra-fine pressurised water mist into the atmosphere, which quickly evaporates and helps reduce ambient temperatures in surrounding areas. The temporary cooling effect is expected to provide comfort to pedestrians, traffic personnel, street vendors, tourists, and workers who spend long hours outdoors.
The Beach Road stretch has been witnessing significant tourist footfall during evenings and weekends, while Railway Station Road remains one of the busiest transit corridors in the city. Authorities believe the initiative will help ease heat-related discomfort for thousands of people commuting through these areas every day.
VPA officials stated that the deployment is part of broader efforts to support public welfare during extreme weather conditions and added that the situation would continue to be monitored based on temperature levels in the coming days.
Residents and visitors welcomed the initiative, saying such measures would be particularly beneficial during afternoon hours when heat radiation remains severe across the coastal city.