Cyclone Titli leaves 8 dead in Andhra Pradesh, 1 in Odisha

Cyclone Titli made an early landfall in Odisha yesterday morning, with surface wind speeds of 126 kmph, according to media reports. An 8-year-old boy got drowned in a canal in Hinjili region of Ganjam district, where 5 people were reportedly missing after being swept away in the flood waters. Kulange Vijay Amruta, Ganjam Collector informed that 5 people, which included 2 women and 2 children, were swept away by flood water on their way back home from a cyclone shelter in Sorada.

The Odisha government had earlier claimed to have attained its ‘Mission Zero Casualty’, a target set by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Around 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) were deployed together with the Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) at various places across the state.

Cyclone Titli also caused widespread damage in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam regions of north coastal Andhra Pradesh. According to Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority, at least 8 people, including 6 fishermen were killed due to the heavy storm.

The road network in Srikakulam region also faced heavy damage. The power distribution system was also badly affected. It was reported that around 2,000 electric poles were uprooted. The Eastern Power Distribution Company that provides electricity to north coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh also reported that distribution system for 4,319 villages and 6 towns were affected.