Montha spares Narsapuram coast, Uppada coast bears the brunt

The Narsapuram coast heaved a sigh of relief after Cyclone Montha made landfall near Narsapuram in the early hours of Wednesday without causing any major damage. No loss of life was reported along the Narsapuram coast, said West Godavari District Collector Chadalavada Nagarani. 

Speaking to The Hindu, Ms. Nagarani said: “The Narsapuram coast did not witness any major loss. However, 268 trees, mostly coconut trees, were found fallen or uprooted by morning, with nearly 100 more trees believed to have fallen. The National Disaster Response Force personnel are removing the fallen trees and clearing the roads.”

She added that as many as eight houses have been damaged. However, no human loss has occurred. Farmers across the Godavari region have been advised not to resume paddy harvesting until further orders. 

Uppada bears the brunt

On the Kakinada coast, Uppada was affected the most with as many as 61 houses damaged. Owing to the giant waves, a row of houses belonging to fisherfolk has been completely damaged. The Kakinada-Uppada road for more than one kilometre has been damaged. Fisherfolk from Uppada choose to remain in relief camps. 

Kakinada District Collector S. Shan Mohan told The Hindu: “No human loss has been reported along the Kakinada coast. Agriculture crops above 5,500 acres and 51-kilometer-long roads have been damaged.” At least 108 trees have fallen or been uprooted due to the cyclone. 

At Kumbabhishekam fish landing point near the Kakinada deepsea port, a fisherman, Gaddepalli Sairam of Dummulapeta in Kakinada City, went missing and is feared to have drowned. Kakinada City MLA Vanamadi Venkateswara Rao said that the incident occurred while Mr. Sairam was trying to anchor a fishing boat with a rope to a shoreline point. NDRF personnel have launched search operations in the sea, but Mr. Sairam remains untraced.