30 die in AP cyclone

The unprecedented rains paralysed normal life completely. Scores of trains were either cancelled or diverted while bus services came to a grinding halt. Thousands of people were evacuated while hundreds of villages were marooned. Crops in thousands of acres were completely damaged, said officials.

The largest number of deaths—nine—were reported from West Godavari district while East Godavari accounted for eight. Five people died in Krishna, four in Guntur, three in Khammam and one in Nalgonda. Khammam district received the heaviest rain in the last 25 years with Kunavaram recording an unbelievable 49 cms rainfall.

In Hyderabad, CM Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy reviewed the situation and directed officials from affected districts to be on high alert. While announcing an exgratia of Rs 1 lakh to the bereaved families, the CM said, ‘‘The government is keeping a close watch on the situation.’’

In East Godavari district, eight fishermen who ventured into the high seas yesterday morning, have not returned. Some 30 villages have been submerged and communications with over 100 lanka villages have been cut off.

Efforts were on to evacuate residents of Lanka villages in the Konaseema region using boats and two choppers.

Heavy rains accompanied by 70-km-strong gales wreaked havoc in Vijayawada and parts of Krishna district, killing five people, including two in Vijayawada city. In Guntur district, three died in wall collapse incidents while the fourth was washed away in flood waters.