Cyclone Titli effect: Fishermen go missing in Visakhapatnam

The very severe cyclonic storm (VSCS) has caused a sorry state of affairs in a few districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. It has been reported that two fishermen boats collided with each other during the cyclone in Visakhapatnam. While six of the nine people on board the boats reached safe waters, three fishermen have gone missing. The three fishermen have been identified as the residents of Vizianagaram district.

Responding to the same, Visakhapatnam collector, Pravin Kumar said that search operations will be launched in the sea with the help of the Navy. Speaking to the reporters, the collector said, “We are coordinating with the collectors of Vizianagaram and other districts to carry out the search op, and try to identify the missing fishermen by Friday afternoon.”

Making a landfall near Gopalpur on Thursday morning with a wind speed of close to 150 kmph., Titli threw the life into chaos in the affected areas. Numerous electric poles and trees have been uprooted by strong winds. Reportedly, the power supply too, to more than 4000 villages was affected in Srikakulam district. The telecommunications networks have also been hit in these areas.

Apart from causing a widespread destruction, the cyclone has claimed the lives of eight people in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh.

While six fishermen were killed after venturing into the sea, a 62-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man were killed in the storms in Gudivada and Srikakulam respectively.