Normal life still hit across Coastal AP

Hyderabad, Oct 31 (UNI) Normal life continued to be hit as the cyclonic system, which weakened further today, left a trial of destruction in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, taking a toll of nine lives.

Over 47900 people, including 10,000 in Krishna district, were evacuated to 161 relief camps, official sources said.

Rail, road, power and telecommunication services were also affected in the coastal region.

Reviewing the situation with his cabinet colleagues and officials at the Secretariat here, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy directed Ministers to rush to the marooned areas to coordinate rescue and relief operations on a war footing.

Senior IAS officers B R Meena, Sashank Goel and R M Gonela were appointed as special officers to coordinate relief activities in the worst-hit Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts, Information Minister Mohd Ali Shabeer told reporters here.

Meanwhile, weather office predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over worst-hit districts of Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari and West Godavari during next 48 hours and over few places of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Khammam and Nalgonda districts.

As many as 77 labourers were rescued from acquaculture fields in Chinnaganjam near Chirala in Prakasam district, an official release said.

According to MET office, Gudivada recorded an extremely high rainfall of 55 cm, followed by Machilipatnam 34 and Avanigadda 32, Narsapur 22 , Vijayawada Airport and Repalle 19 each, Kaikalur 16, Amalapuram and Eluru 15 each, Bhimavaram 14, Mangalagiri 13, Bapatla 12, Chintalapudi and Tenali 11 each, Tanuku 10, Koderu nine, Bhimadole and Nuzvid eight each, Kakinada and Tadepalligudem seven each.

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