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Cyclonic storm crosses Andhra coast, claims two lives

The severe cyclonic storm which crossed the Andhra coast near the port town of Visakhapatnam last evening claimed two lives and caused damage to crops, besides dislocating communications.

Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu today made an aerial survey of the affected areas.

Official sources in Hyderabad said that a woman was washed away in a stream in Ravikamatham village and a man in Chodavaram in Visakhapatnam.

More than 30,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas in cyclone-hit districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and East Godavari and sheltered in more than 20 relief camps.

Three fishermen who went to the sea on November 12 were reported missing from East Godavari district. However, 18 of the 19 fishermen missing from Parvada area in Visakhapatnam district had returned safely, the sources said.

Paddy crops in more than 70,000 acres in East Godavari district and 46,000 acres in Srikakulam district were damaged in the heavy rain and gale in the wake of the cyclone.

About 2,000 huts and houses were damaged and a number of roads breached in the four coastal districts.

The cyclone also damaged a number of electrical installations including 131 feeders in Visakhapatnam and 25 feeders and nine sub-stations in Vizianagaram. More than 20 minor irrigation tanks were damaged in Tekkali area in Srikakulam district.

Senior officials were camping in the affected areas to supervise relief operations. The cyclonic system has weakened and moved towards Raipur in Madhya Pradesh.

UNI

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