Cyclone Nilam Death Toll Rises To 22

The state government on Sunday confirmed the death of 22 people due to incidents related to cyclone Nilam.

Addressing a press conference at the state Secretariat, Disaster Management Commissioner P Radha said that a maximum of seven deaths were reported from East Godavari district. He said that nearly 67,819 people of 21,655 families have been shifted to 86 relief camps set up in the affected districts. He added that safe drinking water, food and medical assistance were being supplied in the relief camps and other affected areas.

The Commissioner said that crops spread across 2.43 lakh hectares across the state were damaged due to heavy rains and flooding.

As per the report of the Municipal Administration Department, 495 kilometres of roads, 406 km of drains, 107 km of water supply lines, 10,882 street lights and 36 municipal buildings were also damaged.

The Department of Animal Husbandry confirmed the death of 27 cattle valued at Rs. 2.6 lakh due to rains. Eight veterinary buildings in Prakasam and Chittoor districts were also damaged.

Radha said that Narasapuram in West Godavari district, on Saturday, received 31 centimetres of rainfall, which is almost half the state's average rainfall in a year. Amalapuram received 27 ,cm and Rajahmundry and Yelamanachali received rainfaill of 25 cm each. Satyavedu and Kamalapuram in Rayalaseema region and Suryapet in Telangana also received heavy rainfall.

The Met department has predicted moderate to rather heavy rain or thunder showers at most places in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari, during the next 48 hours. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers will also occur in a few places in Rayalaseema.

The Commissioner also stated that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would review the cyclone situation with ministers and officials at the state Secretariat. (INN)