8 killed, lakhs evacuated as cyclone Titli lashes Andhra-Odisha coast

Mangalore Today News Network

Andra Pradesh, Oct 11, 2018 : At least eight people were killed and lakhs were left without power on Thursday as Cyclone Title hit Andhra Pradesh and Odisha destroying huts, uprooting trees, snapping electric and telephone poles, officials said, as to Hindustan Times.

 

“We fear 6,000-7,000 electricity poles may have been uprooted. Around 4,00,000 to 5,00,000 people are now without electricity,” K Dhananjaya Reddy, district administrative chief of Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh said.

Cyclone “Titli,” with gusts of up to 165 kph (100 mph), made landfall in the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh early on Thursday, the India Meteorological Department said.

The severe cyclonic storm wreaked havoc on infrastructure, blocking roads and hampering emergency work. Television footage showed tin roofs of several houses being blown away.

“The storm has caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in some districts of Odisha, damage to houses, street lights and roadblocks due to fallen trees,” special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said, according to wire agency Reuters. “We are still assessing the damage and roadblocks are being cleared.”

Cyclone Titli will weaken gradually and is expected to turn into a “deep depression” by Friday morning, IMD said.

“It (Cyclone Titli) is very likely to move northwestwards for next 12 hours and then re-curve northeastwards towards Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha,” IMD said.

“It is very likely to weaken gradually becoming severe cyclonic storm around noon, cyclonic storm around the evening of today and a deep depression by the morning of tomorrow, October 12, 2018,” it added.