Blackout as rains pound Andhra's Srikakulam district

Panic gripped north coastal Andhra Pradesh districts on Saturday as cyclone Phailin entered Bendi in Srikakulam district.

Panic gripped north coastal Andhra Pradesh districts on Saturday as cyclone Phailin entered Bendi in Srikakulam district. Being at Ground Zero, the district witnessed heavy rains coupled with gale force winds since Friday night, resulting in severe damage in Uddanam, Itchapuram, Kalingapatnam and Sompeta areas. Squally winds of over 70 kmph led to uprooting of electric poles and trees in these areas.

Except Srikakulam town, power supply to most parts of the district was cut off.

With tidal waves rising up to three metres, the sea surged enormously along the entire North Andhra Coast at the time of the cyclone making landfall.

Under the impact of Phailin, heavy rain also lashed Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.

The authorities have so far evacuated 1,29,100 people from 294 villages in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts and shifted them to a total of 115 relief camps, an official release said.

The East Coast Railway cancelled or short-terminated more than 45 trains. 

Meanwhile, officials in Visakhapatnam complained that people were resisting evacuation despite repeated requests. “If people do not cooperate, the collectors have been asked to invoke Section 34C of the Disaster Management Act and evacuate them forcibly,” said State Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy.

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com