Over 1.29 lakh people evacuated in coastal Andhra

Over 129,000 people were evacuated in north coastal Andhra Pradesh in view of cyclone Phailin, which crossed the coast near Gopalpur in Odisha Saturday night.

Officials said 129,100 people were evacuated from 294 villages of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts.

The authorities opened 115 relief camps. While 56 camps were opened in Srikakulam, 43 were opened in Vizianagaram and 16 in Visakhapatnam district.

Eleven "mandals" in Srikakulam, seven each Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam are likely to be affected by the cyclone.

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who reviewed the situation at a high level meeting Saturday night, directed the chief secretary and other officials to be on high alert.

"The chief minister directed officials to take up immediate rescue and relief measures in the affected areas. He also asked for repair and restoration of electricity, roads, sanitation and drinking water facilities," a statement from the chief minister's office said.

Round-the-clock functioning of control rooms with telephones has been put in place at state, district and mandal levels.

Nineteen teams of National Disaster Response Force, five columns of army personnel with engineers, communication specialists and medical teams have been kept ready for relief work.

Two helicopters have been provided by the government of India; the state has sought eight more.