Visakhapatnam: The state heaved a sigh of relief as severe cyclone Michong crossed the state near South Bapatla with maximum sustained wind speed of 90 to 100 kmph on Tuesday afternoon. The system uprooted electric poles and damaged agricultural and horticultural crops over thousands of acres.

About 10,000 people have been evacuated to safer places from parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema districts. Electricity supply remained disrupted in six districts. Normal life has been affected as road, rail and air transport remained suspended for the second day on Tuesday. Strong gusts up to 100 km/h were experienced along the storm’s path.

A report from IMD Amravati said the eye of the cyclonic storm was located near Bapatla, while the forward area of the weather system had also entered land. The landslide incident lasted for about three hours. The weather system will likely move northwards and weaken into a cyclonic storm on Tuesday night. The IMD has predicted that the system will weaken into a depression on Wednesday and cause heavy rainfall over parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh.

National and state disaster response forces and police personnel braved the adverse conditions and rescued dozens of people from submerged areas, swollen drains and streams, thereby saving lives. The death toll in rain-related incidents in the state remained at one. It may be recalled that four-year-old boy Yashwant, a resident of Chindepalli ST Colony in Yerpesu mandal of Tirupati district, died on Sunday when the wall of his house collapsed due to incessant rains.

Michong left a trail of floods at many places in the affected districts of the state, with roads broken, canals overflowing and thousands of acres of crops submerged in the state.

Nellore, Tirupati, Prakasam, Bapatla, Guntur and Krishna districts of the state were the worst-affected areas as heavy rains coupled with strong thunderstorm that lasted for two days left farmers in shock as thousands of paddy, banana and some other crops were left standing. Acres were damaged. Heavy rains caused damage to standing crops in parts of Eluru, West Godavari, East Godavari, Kakinada, Konaseema, Anakapalle, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.