Cyclone Phethai spares Andhra Pradesh, destruction less than Titli

VISAKHAPATNAM: Andhra Pradesh appeared to have dodged a bullet Monday as Cyclone Phethai crossed the coast near Kakinada, without leaving too much damage in its wake, in terms of lives and property. The scale of devastation also appeared to be much lesser than was witnessed as Cyclone Titli ravaged Srikakulam district in October.


Cyclone Phethai crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast close to Yanam, 40 km south of Kakinada in East Godavari district between 1.30 pm to 2.30pm, according to K Naga Ratna, director, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Hyderabad Centre.

Dr Naga Ratna said that after crossing the AP coast the cyclone took a ‘U-turn’ and redirected to the sea towards west central Bay of Bengal off Kakinada and later weakened to deep depression (its downstage) before crossing Tuni in East Godavari and Payakaraopeta in Visakhapatnam on Monday evening. Later, the system moved over the land through the middle of Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts to enter Odisha.

Araku Valley in Visakhapatnam district registered nearly 200mm of rainfall from Sunday to Monday evening under the influence of the cyclone while Pachipenta in Vizianagaram district recorded 166mm of rainfall, she said. Though the cyclone made landfall in Kakinada, rainfall was mostly in Visakhapatnam areas, Dr Naga Ratna said. Yendada in Visakhapatnam city recorded the highest rainfall of 128mm during the period of Sunday morning to Monday evening, she said. The rains are expected to continue on Tuesday.

State energy secretary Ajay Jain said, “Compared to Cyclone Titli, the loss due to Phethai is negligible.”