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Cyclone toll mounts to 31 in Andhra Pradesh

Syed Amin Jafri in Hyderabad

The death toll in the torrential rains in the wake of cyclonic storm that hit Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday has mounted to 31 on Wednesday afternoon.

Confirming the toll, State Relief Commissioner D C Rosaiah told rediff.com that 31 persons died in the floods in four affected districts of Nellore, Chittoor, Cuddapah and Kurnool in southern Andhra Pradesh.

Rosaiah said that about 25,000 people have been shifted to safer places and accommodated in relief camps in the four districts. He pointed out that breaches occurred at 125 minor and medium irrigation tanks. Roads and highways were also damaged at several places.

He explained that the roads, buildings and irrigation engineering teams were working on a war-footing to restore the breached tanks and damaged roads.

Two military engineering teams have also come to assist in the restoration work.

The relief commissioner said that railway teams were also working round the clock to put the railway track on line in the affected areas.

The rail traffic is expected to be restored in several places by Wednesday night.

However, restoration of the railway services on Gudur-Renigunta line and Gudur Cuddapah would take some more time, he added.

He said that several villages were cut off due to breaches in tanks and road communications.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made an extensive aerial survey of the flood-ravaged Cuddapah and Nellore districts. He issued instructions to the local authorities for providing relief assistance to the affected families. The officials have started supplying rice, kerosene, utensils and cash assistance to affected families from Wednesday morning.

The district authorities have taken up dropping of food packets and drinking water sachets to the marooned villages and stranded persons on the highway through helicopters.

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