Makes landfall close to Machillipatnam; people evacuated from vulnerable areas; 130 relief camps opened in Krishna district
The tropical severe cyclone, Helen, made a landfall on the Andhra
Pradesh coast close Machillipatnam around 1.30 pm today. According to
the preliminary report, 10 persons have lost lives in cyclone-related
incidents. They include one block development officer from West Godavari
district. Large-scale crop damage has been reported from Prakasam,
Guntur, Krishna and West and
East Godavari districts, especially from
West and East Godavari districts.
The cyclone winds had a speed of 120 km/hr at the time of landfall.
Coastal areas started experiencing heavy rains and strong winds around
11 am. The sea became very turbulent and waves rose more than 1.5 m
high. A large number of houses have suffered damage and many big trees
got uprooted.
Evacuation of the people from the coast to safer places was started
in the morning itself. About 23,000 people have been evacuated from
Krishna and 20,000 from West Godavari. People have been moved to safer
places in other districts too. Fishers have been strictly warned not to
venture into the sea today and tomorrow since the sea will be very
rough.
Many low-lying areas in the coastal distrcts are under water. Relief
work is in progress. Six teams of the National Disaster Response Force
and about 450 personnel of the State Disaster Management Force are
engaged in the relief work.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the Cyclone will
retain its intensity six more hours after he landfall and the intensity
will gradually subside. Heavy rains under the effect of the cyclone will
continue tomorrow also.
Last month the state had experienced tremendous damage. including
crop loss when Phalin, a severe cyclone, hit the east coast at Gopalpur
in Odisha close to Andhra’s north-eastern district of Srikakulam. Many
low-lying areas in the coastal districts were under water for many days
in the floods and heavy rains that followed Phailin. A central team has
just concluded damage assessment on November 20.
Districts on alert
With the threat of heavy rains and large-scale inundation of low-lying
areas, the state government had put the administration of three
districts on alert. While evacuation of people of low-lying and
vulnerable areas in the districts likely to be affected has begun, the
collectors had been asked to warn people about possible flash floods in
streams and rivulets. Revenue minister N Raghuveera Reddy, had a
video-conference on Thursday with the district collectors to review the
preparedness for the impending disaster.
The Krishna district administration has kept four relief teams ready
in three coastal blocks. About 130 relief camps have been opened.
Officers in-charge have been appointed to oversee the relief work before
and after the cyclone,” said Krishna district collector Raghunandan
Rao.
Six teams of the National Disaster Response Force are in position for
the relief work. The state government has requested for more teams from
the Centre. About 450 personnel of the State Disaster Management Force
would also be available to help in evacuation and relief work, said the
commissioner of the state disaster management department. One helicopter
has also been kept ready for lifting people from Machillipatnam,
Amalapuram and Narsapurram areas.
