HYDERABAD: At least 24 persons were killed and over 12,000 houses collapsed rendering more than 60,000 homeless as a devastating typhoon hit the Kavali town in Nellore District, along the coast of the Southern Indian State of Andhra Pradesh, reports PTI.
However, the Chief Minister of the state, N-T. Rama Rao said the toll had risen to 26 with the recovery of two more bodies. Rama Rao who is on election campaign tour in the state, has announced an execration payment of Rs 5000 to the next of kin of those killed.
Relief and rescue operations were in full swing and food packets were being dropped by helicopters, according to flood control officials. While six trains scheduled to leave Madras were cancelled, flights and bus services were being operated.
While 7 were killed in Kavali, the worst affected town, three deaths were reported from Angola in the adjoining Pakistan district.
The area withina 10 Km radius around Kayali town portrays a picture of devastation with uprooted electric and telephone poles, trees and railway tracks.
Meanwhile, the additional commissioner for flood relief, Laxman Rag, told reporters that medical teams were rushed for vaccination in over 100 villages and over 12,000 food packets were dropped from two Indian Air Force choppers in the affected areas. Seventy five teams have been deployed in the affected areas to assess the damage, Raq said.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 17, 1989
