Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh heaved a sigh of relief as Cyclone Michaung, packing 100 kmph winds, spared the state of extreme damage after it made landfall near south Bapatla between 12.30 pm and 2.30 pm on Tuesday. The landfall phenomenon lasts for up to three hours.
Till last reports came in, there was no loss of life. However, it left in its wake a trail of damage to agricultural and horticultural crops in thousands of acres and uprooted power poles, and affected flight and railway schedules.
The cyclone will start weakening overnight and dissipate into a low pressure area but not before bringing more rain in coastal AP, Telangana state and Odisha.
In Chennai, rain from the cyclone claimed 12 lives and stranded vast swathes of the metropolis. Fishing boats and farm tractors were engaged in rescuing stranded people in Chennai.
Around 10,000 people from coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema districts were moved to safer places. There was no power supply in as many as six districts. Normal life remained crippled as road, rail and air transport remained suspended for the second day on Tuesday.
Heavy gales touching up to 100kmph were felt along the storm path.
An IMD Amaravati report said the eye of the cyclonic storm lay near Bapatla while the forward sector of the weather system had also entered overland. The landfall phenomenon lasted around three hours.
Nine mandals of Nellore were grappling with severe impacts. Trees have been uprooted, electric poles fell, and fields were submerged in floodwaters. Manubole mandal recorded heavy rainfall of above 30 cm while Sydapuram experienced over 28 cm and Nellore urban faced the brunt with 25 cm of rainfall. Podalakuru, Venkatachalam, Sangam, Nellore rural, Rapur, and Muthukur mandals recorded downpours exceeding 20 cm.
The Grand Trunk Road witnessed brief halts in vehicular movement from Nellore towards Chennai, Tirupati and Vijayawada due to waterlogging on the highways, uprooted trees, and fallen electric poles. Hundreds of houses were inundated due to continuous rainfall since Sunday evening.
The delay in power supply affected the municipal corporation limits' water supply in Nellore on Tuesday.
“Relief measures were promptly undertaken in all cyclone-affected areas while power supply was restored in Nellore city. However, crops at the sowing stage suffered damage and the government would provide seeds under input subsidy to the affected farmers. Families shifted to rehabilitation centres would receive a compensation of Rs 2,500”, said cyclone special officer Hari Kiran.
In Kandukur, around 100 fishermen from Tamil Nadu, stranded at Juvvaladinne in 23 boats due to heavy rainfall, were given shelter by authorities.
The Somasila reservoir had reached its full capacity, with inflows resulting in a storage level of 30tmc-ft. To prevent breaches in the bunds, irrigation officials released 10,915 cusecs of water downstream. The Brahmeswaram culvert was damaged in the cyclone’s impact in Duttalur mandal, while the Manneru rivulet in Atmakur mandal experienced a surge in water levels.
Agriculture minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy, along with MLA Ramireddy Pratap Reddy visited the cyclone-affected areas on Tuesday.
In Tirupati district, Kota mandal experienced the highest rainfall of 19cm, while Chillakuru, Gudur and Chittamur mandals recorded 18cm rainfall. Tragically, two women -- Kannali Krishnamma and Mabamma - of BN Kandriga's Pallamala and Mutyalamma colony lost their lives due to the intensified cold conditions.
TTD chairman and MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy visited the flood-affected areas in Pulavanigunta and Gollavanigunta in Tirupati city. He claimed that modernization of drains and roads prevented inundation in a majority of the corporation limits.
The district administration has set up 47 cyclone relief centres in Prakasam, providing essentials for around 18,000 people in the water-logged areas. Collector Dinesh Kumar promised support for the families living in such conditions, including distribution of essentials.
