5 mandals in Srikakulam to face Fani fury

Srikakulam: With extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani converted as 'super cyclone,' it will have more impact on five mandals, Itchapuram, Kaviti, Kanchili, Sompeta and Vajrapukotturu. The Fani is likely to impact a total of 461 villages across Srikakulam district.

All 237 villages located along the sea coast from Itchapuram to Srikakulam are likely to be affected due to high velocity winds at a speed of 140 to 150 kmph. In total, 117 villages situated either side of Vamsadhara river and another 107 villages located either side of Nagavali river are likely to be affected by floods. More than one lakh cusecs of water inflows are expected in Vamsadhara river and more than 60,000 cusecs of inflows are expected in Nagavali river.

Odisha officials already released flood waters into these two rivers. In total, 126 relief camps were arranged in all 15 mandals and shifted 19,129 people to cyclone shelters till night. The cyclonic storm is expected make its landfall near Puri of Odisha state on May 3 morning. Huge damage is expected in all 15 mandals Itchapuram, Kaviti, Kanchili, Sompeta, Mandasa, Palasa, Nandigam, Tekkali, Kotabommali, Narasannapeta, Santhabommali, Vajrapukotturu, Polaki, Gara and Srikakulam.

All these 15 mandals covered under Itchapuram, Palasa, Tekkali, Narasannapeta and Srikakulam Assembly segments. For Itchapuram, Palasa, Tekkali segments, three IAS officers were deputed. For all 15 mandals, special officers were appointed to monitor the situation round-the-clock.

Nine NDRF, 10 SDRF, 45 fire teams, 25 boats, 82 generators, 200 tree cutting mobile machines, 36 road clearance teams and five JCBs were deployed. In total 800 solar lamps also distributed and 50 mobile charging units were arranged. Twenty large buses and 20 mini buses, seven heavy load vehicles were arranged to shift people and to carry goods.

In total 10,000 power supply poles are expected to damage and 6,000 new poles are kept ready at cyclone prone areas. Till night out of total 38 mandals, 37 mandals except Veeragattam received light to moderate rainfall. Total rainfall reported in district is 608.8 mm and average rainfall recorded as 23.5 mm. Highest rainfall recorded in Vajrapukotturu mandal as 47 mm.

Vehicles movement stopped on all State and National Highways in the district from 8 pm on Thursday to till 9 am on Friday. Joint Collector K V N Chakradhara Babu, Additional Joint Collector P Rajanikantha Rao, district revenue officer K Narendra Prasad are assisting district collector and coordinating with assembly segment level and mandal level special officers on relief works.