Cyclone Michaung: Heavy rains lash Coastal districts in AP, leaves farmers in distress

AMARAVATI: The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that the severe cyclonic storm Michaung will soon make landfall near Bapatla in Andhra Pradesh. Currently, the cyclonic storm was centered at a distance of 40 km to Kavali in Nellore district, 80 km to Bapatla and 140 km to Machilipatnam.

The cyclonic storm was moving 90-110 km per hour and due to this heavy rains are lashing out in the coastal districts. Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Rajamahendravaram, Bhimavaram, Eluru, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Ongole, Nellore and Tirupati were drenched in rain.

In Chirala, the officials issued the 10th danger mark. Heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds lashed Chirala town. As many as 16 personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed on duties to effectively handle the crisis. Around 25 families residing on the coastal area were shifted to the rehabilitation centres. Apart from Vijayawada, the heavy rains also lashed out erstwhile Krishna and Guntur districts.

Several low lying areas in Diviseema region and Nagayalanka mandals were inundated following the incessant rain from Monday night. Chittedu in Tirupati district received the highest rainfall of 39 cm, followed by Manubolu (36.8 cm) in Nellore district, Allampadu (35 cm) in Tirupati district, Chillakuru (33 cm), Naidupeta (28.7 cm), Bapatla (21 cm) and Machilipatnam (14.9 cm).

Above 10 cm rainfall was registered in Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Bapatla and Krishna district. Several areas in North Coastal Andhra district received light to moderate rains. Heavy rains would lash Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts in the next 24 hours, according to the IMD. Due to the cyclonic storm, several age-old trees were uprooted in the railway station in Kavali, Nellore district.

Upon receiving information about the incident, NDRF personnel rushed to the spot and began the relief measures. Thousands of banana trees were damaged in Chitvel mandal in Annamayya district, Netivaripalle and Nagaripadu, according to farmers. In Suryalanka of Bapatla district, several electric poles were uprooted causing severe inconvenience to the public.

In Appikatla of Bapatla district paddy crop was damaged in thousands of acres, while tobacco crop was damaged in Korisapadu and green chilli in Karlapalem. Hundreds of bags of paddy were damaged in Diviseema of Krishna district. In YSR Kadapa district, paddy, maize, chilli, tobacco, turmeric and other crops were damaged in hundreds of acres causing a huge loss to the farmers.