After Helen, 'Lehar' to hit AP on Nov 28

Just days after being hit by cyclone Helen, Andhra Pradesh is bracing itself to face another cyclone, which would cross the state coast on November 28, the Met office said today. Cyclonic storm 'Lehar' will cross the Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada, located in the East Godavari district, on November 28, the Indian Meteorological Department said.

Currently, it is placed near the Andaman islands located in the Bay of Bengal. Under its influence, rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and coastal and south interior Karnataka, IMD said in its weather outlook for four days from November 27 to Dec  1.

The damage caused by last month’s Phailin storm in Andhra Pradesh is still being assessed.

About 1,68,998 hectares of paddy crop, of which over 60 per cent is only in West Godavari district, has been damaged under the impact of heavy rains caused by cyclone Helen,  according to preliminary estimates of the state disaster management wing.  

Electricity supply in 563 villages had stopped due to supply disruptions.

Trees fell on the power lines and on the road side in several places in the coastal areas of Krishna and Godavari districts.