Life was disrupted along the southern Andhra Pradesh coast on Tuesday due to heavy rainfall and high-velocity winds associated with Cyclone Michaung, which impacted Bapatla town and surrounding villages. The storm made landfall between 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., near the southern part of Bapatla, with maximum sustained wind speeds reaching 90-100 km/h.
Three fatalities resulted from rain-related incidents. Two individuals died when a section of a poultry unit collapsed in Eluru district, while a constable from the APSP battalion in Kadapa was killed when a tree fell on him while he was riding a motorcycle in the Siddavatam forest range.
“The cyclone is moving northward and is expected to weaken in the coming hours. Nonetheless, heavy rainfall will persist,” stated the A.P. State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA).
Officials noted that restoring power supply in affected areas could take several days. As a precaution, electricity was shut off well in advance of the cyclone’s landfall. Reports indicated structural damage to several homes, including the collapse of walls and roofs, but there have been no additional casualties reported so far. Residents in poorly constructed thatched and tiled houses were particularly vulnerable, officials mentioned.
The sea displayed turbulent conditions, characterized by rough waves and gusty winds as the intense cyclone passed approximately 40 km from Bapatla.
According to the APSDMA, the tidal waves have caused the sea to encroach the shoreline by about 100 to 110 meters, damaging many thatched fishermen’s houses. Fortunately, there were no casualties in fishing communities, as most residents had been evacuated to safer locations ahead of the storm.
“The heavy rainfall has persisted for the past three days. However, the continuous rain and strong winds since Monday evening have greatly alarmed the villagers,” said Mariyamma, a member of the fishing community.
Emergency services, including police and teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), have been stationed at Suryalanka beach, reported Superintendent of Police Vakul Jindal. NDRF Commandant Zahid Khan confirmed that efforts were made to relocate individuals living in vulnerable thatched houses and huts in nearby settlements.
The wind speeds were intense enough to force NDRF personnel to seek shelter briefly during their operations on the beach.
The APSDMA indicated that the cyclone is expected to continue its northward path, transition into a cyclonic storm, and eventually weaken into a deep depression within 48 hours. As rainfall intensity increased post-landfall, evacuations were conducted in low-lying areas.
Published – December 05, 2023, 07:17 p.m. IST
