Phailin effect:1.29 lakh people evacuated from coastal Andhra

Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy late night on Saturday reviewed the impact of cyclone Phailin and asked the entire official machinery in the north coastal districts to remain on high alert through the night.

So far 1,29,100 people from 294 villages in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts have been shifted to a total of 115 relief camps, an official release said. Disaster Management Commissioner T Radha said 11 mandals in Srikakulam and seven each in Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts were likely to be affected by Phailin. The Chief Minister directed the officials to take up immediate rescue, relief measures, and also the repair and restoration of power supply lines, roads and drinking water facilities. Round-the-clock control rooms with telephones have been set up at state, district and mandal levels. Nineteen NDRF teams, five columns of Army with engineers, communication specialists and medical teams have been kept ready. The Central government has arranged two helicopters for rescue operations while the state government had requested for eight more, the release added. Srikakulam district, bordering Odisha, is receiving heavy rainfall under the cyclone's impact.