Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday announced Rs 15 crore financial assistance for cyclone-hit Odisha. After a meeting with officials, Naidu announced the aid to take up relief works in areas affected by cyclone 'Fani' which hit Odisha coast near Puri on Friday.
While the Andhra Pradesh coast escaped the fury of the extremely severe cyclone, it claimed 29 lives in Odisha, causing widespread devastation in Puri and parts of Khurdha districts.
Naidu said the cyclone caused massive damage in Odisha and underlined the need for all states to lend a helping hand to the state in relief and rehabilitation works.
The Telugu Desam Party chief said Andhra Pradesh would extend all possible assistance to the neighbouring state, and had already dispatched electricity poles and personnel to Odisha.
Naidu said many villages in Odisha still had no electricity and people were also facing severe hardships due to lack of drinking water. He urged the NGOs to come forward and take part in relief works in the cyclone-affected areas.
Though the cyclone had an impact on 700 villages in north coastal Andhra, the calamity passed off without causing any loss of life or major property damage.
The cyclone triggered heavy rains in parts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts. Srikakulam district bordering Odisha witnessed the maximum impact. The gusty winds speeding up to 140 km per hour uprooted trees and electricity poles, affecting power supply and road transport.
The authorities had opened 232 cyclone relief centres and the medical camps. Naidu said over 1.14 lakh people in affected areas were provided food prepared at the kitchens operating under Mid-Day Meal scheme for schools.
Srikakulam district collector J. Nivas said three houses were damaged due to the winds but there was no loss of life. He said people from coastal villages were evacuated to safe places as a precautionary measure.
According to Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) officials, Kanchili amandal' in Srikakulam district received highest rainfall of 19 cm.
IANS inputs