3 killed as cyclonic storm nears Andhra

HYDERABAD: Three people were killed and thousands evacuated as a cyclonic storm neared Andhra Pradesh, officials said on Monday.   

Cyclonic storm Ogni is closing in on the mainland between Ongole and Machilipatnam, 350 km southeast of the state capital, Hyderabad, the Indian Meteorological Department said.   

“Heavy rains are lashing the coastal district towns with wind speeds of over 50 km per hour under the impact of the cyclone” said a duty officer at the Visakhapatnam cyclone warning centre in the state.

All flights to and from Visakhapatnam were cancelled.

State disaster management officials said that more than 20,000 people from low-lying areas in the coastal districts of Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna have been shifted to more than 75 relief camps, which had been set up in advance.  

“We have pressed country boats to rescue people and also supply drinking water and milk to the stranded families in towns,” said a senior district official.

More than 130 people drowned or were killed as their houses collapsed, and trees and electricity lines fell during heavy rains in the state in August.