The Andhra Pradesh government has begun taking up rescue and relief measures after very severe cyclonic storm Titli unleashed havoc in the state's north coastal region and south coastal Odisha on Thursday.
The cyclone, which claimed eight lives in Andhra Pradesh, triggered widespread rains in the two states, uprooted trees, electricity poles, communication towers, damaged houses and crops and snapped electricity supply.
According to the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, Titli crossed between North Andhra and South Odisha coast near Palasa with wind speed of 140-150 km per hour.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited Visakhapatnam on Thursday evening after the weather cleared and reached Srikakulam by road to review the situation on the ground.
"Chandrababu Naidu is leading the rescue and relief operations from the front and has been in constant contact with officials all through Wednesday night and Thursday through teleconferences," a note from the Chief Minister's office stated.
Officials said that the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) was continuously monitoring the situation which allowed implementation of safety measures, thereby minimizing human loss and cattle loss.
Officials said five deaths were reported from Srikakulam district while three persons were killed in neighbouring Vizianagaram district. Six fishermen were among the dead.
"The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the cyclone was followed and as a result, only two people died on land due to heavy winds and a consequential tree fall. The remaining deaths reportedly happened at sea due to the capsizing of a boat," the CMO office stated.
The state government said that it had mobilised 10,000 electric poles and was working on restoring normalcy along the highways first. Self Help Groups (SHGs) had been given the task of of feeding locals in marooned villages, while the arrangements for drinking water were also being made, with generators pumping the water to required places.
Officials said that electricity substations were also being restored on a war footing. As far as the cattle were concerned, the state is distributing fodder free of cost and is also expected to begin giving out vaccinations on Friday.
The crop loss is also being assessed with several hundred acres of coconut, banana and cashew nut crops hit across the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam.
The Health Department has been kept on alert to prevent any possible outbreak of diseases.
The coastal alert has been put at 10 -- the highest with fishermen prohibited from venturing into the sea for the next few days.