The severe cyclonic storm Michaung which made landfall at Andhra Pradesh coast close to Bapatla on Tuesday has weakened into a depression over Northeast Telangana, the IMD said on Wednesday morning.
Michaung, which left a trail of destruction in its wake, weakened into a deep depression over the central coast of Andhra on Tuesday midnight before weakening further into depression. The storm had wreaked havoc in Chennai and Andhra Pradesh, killing 17 in the Tamil Nadu capital.
In Andhra, it damaged 770-kilometre roads, uprooted 35 trees and killed three livestock, among others. No casualties have been reported so far.
According to data shared by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO), nearly 40 lakh people from 194 villages and two towns were affected by Michaung's impact, including the inundation of 25 villages. As many as 204 relief camps are accommodating 15,173 evacuees in Andhra Pradesh.
Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm, 10 places -- seven in Tirupati and three in Nellore -- experienced more than 200 mm rainfall on Tuesday. Manubolu in the Nellore district recorded 366.5 mm of rainfall.
Despite the storm weakening, the rains are likely to continue. The IMD has forecast heavy rainfall -- 64.5 mm to 115.5 mm -- for Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Anakapalli, Kakinada, Konaseema and Eluru districts for Wednesday.
The weather office predicted a high likelihood of heavy rainfall in Odisha's Rayagada district too till Friday. "As there have been forecasts of more rains, the field staff have been placed on maximum alert," said Collector Swadha Dev Singh told PTI.
Meanwhile, several areas in Chennai, including Arumbakkam, remained waterlogged on Wednesday morning. Footages from the city showed vehicles and people navigating through knee-deep water. According to a statement issued by the Greater Chennai Police, there is still water-logging of a minimum of one foot at various spots in the city. Traffic has been closed in the stretch from Manjambakkam to Vadaperumbakkam due to the release of water from the Puzhal river. It also reported six deaths due to cyclones in the city.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking an immediate interim relief fund of Rs 5060 crores for damages post cyclone Michuang, reported ANI. The letter will be given to Modi in person by DMK MP TR Baalu in Delhi.
Stalin has also requested the Prime Minister to send a central team to review damages due to the cyclone in the state.
