Prepare cyclone property loss estimates soon: JC to officials

Visakhapatnam: The State government has directed the district administration to complete the crop and other property loss assessment due to Phethai cyclone, at the earliest and submit a report.

The Phethai cyclone crossed the shore and at several areas various horticulture, paddy and sugarcane crops were damaged. The senior officials of all the line departments such as agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry, housing, fisheries and APEPDCL swung into action to assess the losses.

With the wind speed reaching above 90-KMPH associated with continuous rainfall, the crops were damaged in several mandals including Payakaraopeta, S.Rayavaram, Rambilli, Atchutapuram, Nakkapalli, Bheemili and Paravada mandals.

According to the information, many of the thatched houses and asbestos roof sheds were damaged in Gajuwaka, Pedagantyada and in Visakhapatnam urban mandals. Due to continuous rainfall, the official teams limited their activities to rescue people only. As normalcy being restored, the officials are moving for ground level assessment on Tuesday.

According to the information, horticulture crops including banana, papaya, crops paddy and sugarcane and vegetables at various villages in the coastal mandals were heavily damaged. Meanwhile, the paddy and sugarcane crops which reached harvesting stage were completely damaged due to the untimely rains associated with the strong gales.

According to the information, the paddy crop inundated in an extent of over 3,000 acres while the horticulture crops were damaged in an extent of over 2,800 acres in the district. The district administration announced that 101 villages were affected by the Phethai cyclone and officials have been directed to visit the villages to prepare actual cyclone losses in the district.

Special teams have deputed to S Rayavaram, Payakaraopeta, Nakkapalle, Rambilli and Atchutapuram mandals to assess the loss. At a review meeting, Joint Collector G Srujana directed the officials to prepare the loss estimates on account of Phethai by December 19th afternoon. The Joint Collector also directed the officials to collect the data of the fishermen families which have been affected in the cyclone.

The details of the cyclone victims including Aadhar number and photos should be geo tagged. Already seven fishing boats were damaged in the fishing harbour and the details also must be listed in the reports, the Joint Collector directed the officials.