Cyclone 'Titli' leaves eight dead in AP, causes widespread

The "very severe" cyclonic storm, "Titli", left eight people dead, besides causing widespread damage in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh Thursday, the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said.

The cyclone threw normal life out of gear as heavy to very heavy rains started lashing the two districts since late Wednesday night.

Eight people were killed in different storm-related incidents such as house and tree collapses in Srikakulam district, the SDMA said.

More than 3,000 people from highly vulnerable areas have been evacuated to safety while over 1,000 houses were damaged in the cyclone.

Heavy loss of cattle and crops was also reported, mostly from Srikakulam district, officials said.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu reached Srikakulam late Thursday night and reviewed the situation with the district authorities.

A high wave and wind alert, valid till 11.30 pm of October 12 has been issued, with over 3 metre high waves along the Bay of Bengal off Kakinada in East Godavari district to Baruva in Srikakulam. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea.

Wind with a speed of 50 to 60 kmph, gusting to 70 kmph, was also likely along the north coastal Andhra, the SDMA said.

While an earlier release from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said six fishermen, who had put out to sea, were killed, an update issued later did not mention about it.

Of the 67 fishing boats that had ventured into the sea over the last few days from Kakinada in East Godavari district, 65 had returned to the shore safely, the CMO said.

Efforts were on to bring back the remaining two boats safely, it added.

The road network suffered extensive damage in Srikakulam district, while the power distribution network was also vastly affected.

More than 2,000 electric poles were uprooted by strong winds.

The Eastern Power Distribution Company that caters to the electricity needs of the north coastal districts reported that the power distribution system for 4,319 villages and six towns was affected in Srikakulam district.

Srikakulam district officials informed the Chief Minister during the review meeting that agricultural crops in 10,021 hectares and horticulture crops in 14,400 hectares suffered damage due to the cyclone.

Traffic on the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway was also hit at places like Tekkali due to uprooted trees.

The telecommunication network in the district has also been hit.

The South Central Railway as well as the East Coast Railway cancelled several trains while some were terminated midway.

A few express trains were diverted via other routes.

Coconut plantations, banana and mango trees were the worst hit in the "very severe" cyclonic storm, according to a preliminary report prepared by the SDMA.

Palasa, Vajrapukottur, Nandigam areas recorded 28.02 cm of rainfall followed by Kotabommali (24.82 cm), Santabommali (24.42 cm), Itchapuram (23.76 cm) and Tekkali (23.46 cm).

The other mandals in Srikakulam district recorded rainfall ranging from 2 cm to 13.26 cm, the CMO said.