Vijayawada: The severe cyclonic storm Michaung crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast close to Bapatla on Tuesday and subsequently weakened into a cyclonic storm, left a trail of destruction in its wake.

According to the official sources Michaung is expected to subside into a deep depression over the next six hours. According to AP CMO sources nearly 40 lakh people from 194 villages and two towns were affected by Michaung’s impact, including the inundation of 25 villages. The storm damaged 770-kilometre roads, uprooted 35 trees and killed three livestock, among others, though there was no loss of human life.

204 relief camps are accommodating 15,173 evacuees throughout the State. As part of relief efforts, 18,073 food packets and more than 1 lakh water packets were distributed. Eighty health camps were also organized. The State Government has sanctioned Rs 23 crore for relief efforts for the affected districts. The damaged structures include 78 huts and a cattle shed while 232 houses were marooned. Two kuccha houses were fully damaged.

770 kilometres of surface roads suffered damage in the districts of Konaseema (234 kilometres), Prakasam (55 kilometres), Nellore (433 kilometres) and Tirupati (48 kilometres) were damaged. Nellore also witnessed the highest number of trees being uprooted with 29 out of the total 35. Under the Municipal administration department, 376 streetlights and 7.5 kilometres of roads were damaged. Fourteen minor irrigation sources were also damaged in Tirupati.

The Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd suffered damage to 13 33-KV feeders, 312 11-KV feeders, 29 33/11-KV sub-feeders, nine 33-KV poles, 140 11-KV poles and 244-LT poles.

Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm, 10 places seven in Tirupati and three in Nellore experienced more than 200 mm rainfall on Tuesday. Manubolu in Nellore district recorded 366.5 mm of rainfall.  Six State Disaster Response Force and an equal number of National Disaster Response Force teams were pressed into service on Tuesday. With the rainwater receding, the state government has decided to enumerate agriculture and horticulture damage, the CMO said.

according IMD sources, the Michaung Cyclone weakened into a cyclonic storm and lay centred over south coastal Andhra Pradesh near 16 degrees north (latitude) and 80.3 degrees east (longitude). It is expected to move nearly northwards in the next six hours and further weaken into a deep depression. Gales gusting up to speeds of 110 kilometres per hour are expected to prevail over west-central Bay of Bengal around the weather system for the next six hours and then gradually subside.

Along the north Andhra Pradesh coast, squally winds reaching speeds of 60 kilometres per hour and gusting up to 65 kilometres per hour are likely to prevail over the next 12 hours and gradually decrease thereafter.

On Wednesday IMD forecast heavy rainfall  64.5 mm to 115.5 mm  for Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema and Eluru districts. Southern districts of Odisha and eastern Telangana continue to be on alert, with Odisha’s southern districts receiving rains on Tuesday in the wake of severe cyclone Michaung

Chennai: The cyclone’s maximum fury was felt on Monday in Chennai and adjoining areas in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The city and adjoining districts faced relentless rains on Monday as Michaung loomed over the north coastal areas of Tamil Nadu. At least 12 people died in various rain-related incidents in and around Chennai even as personnel on fishing boats and farm tractors were engaged in rescuing stranded people in the city on Tuesday.