The once-active town of Anakapalle is now in a state of unusual quietness as the Sankranti festival has caused the townsfolk to go back to their native places. For the last three days, there has been a massive decrease in the number of people and vehicles passing through the town, resulting in vast stretches of roads that were once bustling, to now be largely unoccupied.

Key stretches, including the road from Nayullaveedhi to the GVMC office, have appeared deserted. The festive exodus is mirrored in the substantial decrease in vehicles on the major roads and in the inner streets.

Shops of traders were closed down from Thursday afternoon at the latest, توقعing very few customers during the festival period. Due to the low expectation of customers from the neighboring areas, most businesses were closed on Friday too.

Anakapalle, as a rule, attracts people from different mandals of the district for jobs, business, education, and daily needs. But thousands of town residents, who had purchased clothes and other festival essentials, were leaving already two or three days before Sankranti and Bhogi. This early departure significantly reduced activity from Thursday morning onwards.

By Friday afternoon, several localities wore a curfew-like look. The RTC complex, typically bustling with commuters, stood almost empty. A couple of travelers were seen at the usual bus stop, and the express bus bays, which were almost silent, had the same situation all night long.

Anakapalle during the holidays has become a quiet town that has very few people and will only be fully inhabited after the end of the celebrations.