A very severe cyclonic storm packing winds of up to 150 kmph and widespread rains hit eastern India Thursday, killing eight people in Andhra Pradesh and one in Odisha, damaging homes, uprooting trees and power lines in the two states.
Cyclone Titli made landfall on the eastern coast early Thursday, wreaking havoc in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha’s Gajapati and Ganjam districts.
According to the India Meteorological Department, Titli made landfall near Palasa in Srikakulam district, southwest of Gopalpur in Odisha with an estimated maximum sustained surface wind speed of 140-150 kph gusting to 165 kph between 4.30 am and 5.30 am. The storm system is now moving northeastwards towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha and will weaken gradually, the IMD said.
READ | Titli to cause heavy rains in Kolkata in 48 hours
Andhra Pradesh government authorities said the cyclone caused widespread damage in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, and threw life out of gear as heavy to very heavy rains lashed the two districts since late Wednesday night. While a 62-year old woman died at Gudivada Agraharam village after a tree fell on her, a 55-year old man died in a house collapse at Rotanasa village in Srikakulam.
The state chief minister’s office said the other six killed were fishermen. The road network in Srikakulam district suffered extensive damage, while the power distribution network was also severely affected. More than 2,000 electric poles were uprooted.
READ | Titli causes widespread damage in Gajapati
In Odisha, Titli led to very heavy rainfall in Ganjam, Gajapati and Puri districts and caused damage to power supply and communications. An eight-year-old boy drowned in a canal in Hinjili in Ganjam district, where five people were reported missing after being swept away in flood waters.