The tropical cyclone that made landfall in Andhra Pradesh last week, Friday 22 November, has killed as many as 10 people in the state, affecting as many as 100,000 people. About 25,000 people are still living in camps after being evacuated before the storm struck. Cyclone helen is reported to have destroyed at least 350 homes.
The problem since the cyclone passed has been heavy rainfall and flooding. So far no deaths have been reported as a direct result of the flooding, but early estimates say that huge amounts of farmland have been inundated in the three districts in Andhra Pradesh worst affected by the cyclone; Krishna, West and East Godavari. According to International Business Times:
Paddy crops spread over 350,000 hectares and horticultural plantations over nearly 8,700 hectares have been destroyed
Sadly for the people of Andhra Pradesh, yet another tropical cyclone is heading in their direction. Cyclone Lehar moved north west across the Bay of Bengal on 23 November, is at the moment is expected to make landfall around 28 November , possibly near the port city of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. Lehar passed over the Andaman Islands on 24 November, dumping around 170mm of rainfall in 24 hours. No reports of casualties have been reported.
