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Cyclone Helen yesterday hit Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam, triggering heavy rains and strong gales, killing seven people and causing massive damage to crops in the coastal region. |
Trees were uprooted disrupting traffic and communication and electricity towers were damaged as strong gales with speed reaching 100-110kmph caused havoc in the coastal districts of Krishna and Godavari.
The deaths were mostly caused by falling trees in the affected districts, officials said. Sea conditions were rough.
According to the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, the cyclone made landfall near Machilipatnam in Krishna district around 2pm.
Officials said it would take some more time for the entire system to cross the coast.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that storm surge of about 1m to 1.5m height would inundate low-lying areas of west and east Godavari, Krishna, Guntur districts and adjoining areas of Prakasham district.
With heavy rains likely to continue in the coastal districts over the next 36 hours, authorities have evacuated 17,000 people from low-lying areas.
C Parthasarathi, commissioner, disaster management, said 66 relief camps were opened.
The strong winds damaged coconut, banana and paddy crops, and dealt another blow to farmers who are still recovering from the heavy damage caused by last month’s Cyclone Phailin and accompanying heavy rain.
Earlier, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation with the chief secretary and other officials in Hyderabad and directed them to take all precautionary measures, especially in Krishna and Guntur districts.
A control room to monitor the situation has been opened at the state secretariat in Hyderabad.
