In coastal Andhra Pradesh, atleast six people were killed in rain-related incidents caused by cyclone ‘Helen’. Crops in 1.70 lakh hectares were damaged.
The cyclone has gradually weakened into a low pressure area in a day after crossing the south Andhra Pradesh coast near Machilipatnam yesterday and has moved in a west-southwestward direction.
Met office says, scattered rainfall may occur at few places in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during next 24 hours.
The major crop loss was to paddy which was in its final stage in all the affected districts of East and West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur.
Heavy rains and high velocity winds have inflicted extensive damage to the State’s agriculture and infrastructure sectors which was already reeling under the impact of ‘Phailin’, the damages of which are still being assessed.
As many as 21,283 persons from the four coastal districts were evacuated from vulnerable villages in low-lying areas and were shifted to 93 relief camps.
Meanwhile, works on restoration of power in cyclone-affected areas have been taken up on a war footing as electric poles and trees have been uprooted at several places snapping the power lines.
About ten teams of National Disaster Response Force were engaged in rescue and relief operations in the affected districts. Four helicopters of the Indian Air Force have been kept ready for emergency.