20,000 people evacuated, 14 flights cancelled as Cyclone 'Phethai' hits Andhra

Visakhapatnam - Over 700 passengers were stranded at Visakhapatnam airport.

Coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh were battered with heavy rains Monday, leaving several trees and electric poles uprooted and claiming the life of one person. A boat carrying seven fishermen went missing in the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam, even as Phethai crossed the coast in East Godavari district and moved towards Odisha, PTI reported.
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been actively keeping a track of developments, was apprised of the situation during a review meeting late last night. The Indian Meteorological Department in a statement said that the Deep Depression over Coastal Andhra Pradesh moved nearly northwards with a speed of 11 kmph and gradually weakened into a depression.
Sixteen teams of Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services were deployed in and around Rajamahendravaram, while another nine (of five members each) have been in West Godavari district for road clearance. East Godavari district bore the brunt of the storm as it made landfall near Katrenikona, forcing the evacuation of 20,000 people, who have been sheltered in relief camps.
According to officials at the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, the severe cyclonic storm weakened due to unfavourable environmental conditions and crossed the coast as cyclonic storm. After crossing the coast, it moved towards Odisha.
The incessant rains accompanied by gusty winds lashing the coastal district since Sunday inundated low-lying areas, disrupted electricity and drinking water supply throwing normal life out of gear. The cyclone also paralysed road, rail and air traffic in the region.
East Godavari District Collector Kartikeya Mishra said electricity supply was disrupted to 99 villages and it would be restored soon.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu monitored the situation from Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) control room in Amaravati. 
Home Minister N. Chinna Rajappa, who monitored the situation at the Collector's office in Kakinada, said all measures were taken to tackle the situation. He said efforts were on to restore normalcy in the affected areas.
RTGS officials said the measures taken by the authorities and the precaution by people ensured that there was no loss of life and also minimised the property damage.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and naval helicopters were on standby along with 10,000 government employees as part of disaster preparedness.
Rescue workers were busy removing fallen trees, electric poles and debris from roads to restore vehicular traffic.
Turbulent weather conditions forced the authorities to cancel 14 flights to the port city of Visakhapatnam and divert many others to Hyderabad. Over 700 passengers were stranded at Visakhapatnam airport due to a cancellation of flights.
A holiday was declared for all educational institutions in the coastal region. Authorities also suspended long-distance bus services and cancelled over 50 trains as a precaution.
The cyclone, the second to hit Andhra coast this year, had its impact on seven out of nine coastal districts. The rains inundated roads and low-lying areas in Vijayawada, bringing vehicular traffic to a halt.
'Phethai' also had impact on neighbouring Telangana state with heavy rains lashing many districts. Paddy, cotton and other agriculture produce brought by farmers to the markets for sale were damaged. 
The weather in Greater Hyderabad was cloudy and chilled. Parts of the city experienced showers. 

• India