Cyclone Helen Causes Devastation In 5 Districts

At least 11 people are feared killed, and crops spread across an area of 1.62 lakh hectares have been damaged, due to the cyclonic storm 'Helen' that hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on Friday afternoon.

However, the state government has so far confirmed only 6 deaths.

The cyclone Helen left a trail of destruction, in 5 coastal districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam.

Heavy rainfall is being reported from many areas since then, due to the impact of Cyclone Helen.

3 mandals of Krishna district received more than 100 mm of rainfall, till 6am on Saturday.

Machilipatnam is on the top with 191 mm followed by Pedaparupudi (159 mm) and Gudlavalleru (113 mm). As many as 23 mandals recorded 50 mm to 100 mm of rainfall, with Unguturu on top (92 mm) followed by Gannavaram (89 mm), Allavaram (77 mm), G Konduru (75 mm) and Nandivada (74 mm).

A fisherman's boat, near Nizampatnam, in Guntur district, which was reported to be missing, has returned safely on Friday afternoon.

Also, three boats which were stranded in Katravani Khona, Kothapalli Light House near Reliance Rig in East Godavari district, have been rescued along with 20 persons.

As many as 346 habitations in the districts were classified as "vulnerable areas".

The authorities have also evacuated a total of 21,283 people from low-lying areas to 93 relief camps in Krishna, Guntur, East Godavari and East Godavari districts.

The authorities have confirmed 6 deaths due to cyclone. While 2 deaths each have been reported from Krishna and East Godavari, 1 fisherman was drowned at Badwenipeta in Echerla mandal of Srikakulam district, and another person died in West Godavari district.

A total of 381 houses have been reported to be damaged in 3 districts.

Paddy crops spread across 11,68,998 Hectares and horticulture crops spreas over 210 Hectares have been affected.

The maximum damage has been reported from the West Godavari and Krishna districts.

About 6 kilometres length of the Uppada road in East Godavari has also been damged.

The authorities have claimed that the power supply has been restored in 563 affected villages.

The Meteorology Department has predicted that rainfall will occur in most places, with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall over the north coastal Andhra Pradesh and the adjoining Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari districts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, during the next 24 hours.

Rainfall at many places, with isolated heavy falls have also been reported to occur over Telangana state during the next 24 hours. (INN)