Cyclone Gulab: 1,358 persons rehabilitated in Srikakulam, Modi assures help to Jagan

VISAKHAPATNAM: Srikakulam district collector Shrikesh B Lathkar said that a total of 1,358 people were rehabilitated at 38 centres in the district. The government has set up 61 rehabilitation centres in 13 cyclone-affected coastal mandals.

Three electrical poles were uprooted at Maddiputtuga village of Kanchili mandal and Harijana Street in Kasi-bugga wherein the electrical department swung into action to immediately restore them. A house was damaged at Makannapuram in Mandasa mandal, the collector added.

The state disaster response team and police, with support from locals, cleared the trees that fell on the roads in different parts.

The district administration declared a holiday for schools in the cyclone-affected mandals on Monday.

In Vizag, the city was soaked following continuous rains under the influence of  cyclone Gulab on Sunday. The city registered 100 mm of highest rainfall on Sunday night under the influence of the storm. Low-lying areas in several areas like Gnanapuram were submerged. People remained indoors due to the heavy downpour associated with the winds reaching 10-15kmph during the landfall period in neighbouring Srikakulam district.

Mayor G. Venkata Hari Kumari took stock of the situation through the command control centre. She directed officials to identify areas which were submerged. She urged people to call GVMC helpline number 0891-2869106 for any emergency.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured all help from the Centre for restoration and rehabilitation activities of the state government after cyclone Gulab made landfall in north coastal Andhra Pradesh coast Sunday night.

Modi spoke to Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and took stock of the situation arising in the wake of the cyclone.

“I assured all possible support from the Centre. I pray for everyone’s safety and well-being,” the Prime Minister said in his tweet to the Chief Minister.

Railways rescheduled 24 trains between Odisha and Andhra Pradesh due to the storm. While long-distance trains were short-terminated from Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar, short-distance trains were canceled till September 28.

Temporary help-desks have been set up at Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam Road and Rayagada stations to guide the passengers regarding the movement of train services and to meet any emergency, said Waltair divisional railway manager Anup Kumar Satpathy.