Amaravati, Oct 29 (HS):

Life in coastal Andhra Pradesh came to a grinding halt on Wednesday as Cyclone Montha wreaked havoc, claiming two lives, damaging thousands of houses, and destroying standing crops spread across lakhs of acres.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Montha crossed the Andhra coast in the early hours of Wednesday near Narsapuram, between Kakinada and Machilipatnam, before gradually weakening from a severe cyclonic storm to a cyclonic storm as the day progressed.

Torrential rains led to the overflowing of streams, canals, and ponds, submerging several villages and low-lying areas across coastal districts. Strong winds uprooted trees and electric poles, plunging many areas into darkness.

In Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema district, Agriculture Minister K. Atchennaidu reported that 20,000 acres of paddy have been damaged.

Vijayawada witnessed heavy rains, flooding low-lying neighborhoods, while in Bapatla district, 20 people trapped near a shrine were rescued by emergency teams. Floodwaters also inundated stretches of the Kolkata–Chennai National Highway (NH-16) near Thimmapuram in Palnadu district, bringing traffic to a standstill.

In Srisailam, authorities closed the Ghat Road following landslides that destroyed three shops near Pathala Ganga late Tuesday night. In Prakasam district, floodwaters entered two tunnels of the Veligonda Project, prompting the safe evacuation of 200 staff members.

Nandyal district also reported overflowing rivers and streams including Kundu, Maddileru, and Chama, severely disrupting vehicular movement.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are working on clearing roads, removing uprooted trees and poles, and restoring power supply in the affected regions.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar