AMARAVATI, Oct 29: Cyclone Montha, which crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast past midnight on Tuesday, left two 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 rains.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday said two persons died in the state due to the severe cyclonic storm Montha, observing that precautionary measures minimised loss.
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 Met 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, which included 25 kg rice and other items and an amount of Rs 3,000 cash per family. “Whatever, extensive damage occurred because of this (cyclone). This is a major calamity to the state. However, we managed to save a bit. We brought 1.8 lakh people into relief camps. I came to see how the camps are,” he said. (PTI)
