Cyclone Montha pounds Andhra, 3 dead

Cyclone Montha, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast past midnight on Tuesday, left three persons dead, damaged standing crops over 1.50 lakh acres and disrupted power and transportation. The government said the loss was minimised due to the precautionary measures put in place.

Neighbouring Telangana also received heavy rain.

During a review meeting on the cyclone at the Real Time Governance System at the secretariat, officials informed the Chief Minister that three persons died during the natural calamity.

“Officials informed (the CM) that three persons had died in the state due to the cyclone. The CM directed them to extend a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to their families,” said an official press release. Montha, which means a fragrant flower in Thai, crossed Andhra Pradesh coast around Antarvedi village in Konaseema district, near Narasapur in West Godavari district in the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday. Following its landfall, Montha weakened into a deep depression over coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Telangana. It is likely to move north to northwestwards towards south Chhattisgarh and further weaken into a depression, the meteorological office said.

Naidu undertook an aerial survey of the cyclone-affected areas, which included Bapatla, Palnadu, Krishna, Konaseema and Eluru districts. As part of his tour, he visited a relief camp at Odalarevu village of Allavaram mandal in Konaseema district, where he distributed essential supplies to evacuees.

Earlier, Naidu asked he entire government machinery to continue their efforts for another two days to give more relief to the cyclone-affected people.

He directed officials across various departments to estimate the damage caused by the cyclone so that the data could be sent to the Centre.

Citing preliminary estimates, the government had noted on Tuesday that standing crops in as many as 38,000 hectares were destroyed due to the impact of Montha and horticulture crops in 1.38 lakh hectares were damaged too.

Agriculture Minister K Atchannaidu on Wednesday said although the intensity of the cyclone had reduced after landfall, power and transportation disruptions persist in several affected districts. Teams of the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force continued restoration work. On Wednesday morning, heavy rain accompanied by gale lashed Vijayawada city and a number of trees were uprooted and several roads were inundated under the impact of Montha crossing the coast.