A day after the cyclone hit the coast, rescue and relief measures began on war footing in Srikakulam district on Sunday. The crop including coconut and cashew was damaged in 30,000 acres and around 3,000 houses collapsed in the district. One death was reported in Itchapuram mandal. Electricity network was damaged all along 400 km, according to officials. Restoration of power would take at least three days. As many as 500 trees were uprooted with the impact of Phailin cyclone. Bahuda river is in full spate in Itchapuram mandal. Two villages Jagannadhapuram and Sasanam villages lost connectivity with other areas due to heavy flooding to Bahuda.
A women identified as Ch.Muthyalu (66) died in Buddapupeta village in a wall collapse. A few cows were also killed with the heavy downpour in the mandal. Fishermen lost their boats and nets apart from losing livelihood for the last three days. Restoration of network between Odisha-Andhra Pradesh is being given top priority as many Odisha people were stranded in Itchapuram with the non availability of bus and rails to their native places.
Their condition was pitiable with lack of food as all hotels remained closed on Sunday.
The State government administration provided food and shelter only to the villagers in cyclone shelters but didn’t concentrate on the passengers at the railway and bus stands.
Union Minister of State for Communication and Technology Killi Kruparani, Minister for Revenue N. Raghuveera Reddy and other public representatives on Sunday visited places like Baruva, Kotturu, Nivagam and other areas. Mrs.Kruparani said that she had already urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to provide special package to the cyclone hit Srikakulam district. Mr.Raghuveera Reddy said that rice would be distributed to fishermen families as they lost livelihood due to Phailin cyclone.
