Cyclone Phethai Highlights: Exposed roots of an uprooted trees as Cyclone Phethai barrels through coastal Andhra Pradesh. (PTI) Exposed roots of an uprooted trees as Cyclone Phethai barrels through coastal Andhra Pradesh. (PTI)

Cyclone Phethai Highlights: Coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh were battered with heavy rains Monday, leaving several trees and electric poles uprooted and claiming the life of one person. A boat carrying seven fishermen went missing in the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam, even as Phethai crossed the coast in East Godavari district and moved towards Odisha, PTI reported.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been actively keeping a track of developments, was apprised of the situation during a review meeting late last night. The Indian Meteorological Department in a statement said that the Deep Depression over Coastal Andhra Pradesh moved nearly northwards with a speed of 11 kmph and gradually weakened into a depression.

Sixteen teams of Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services were deployed in and around Rajamahendravaram, while another nine (of five members each) have been in West Godavari district for road clearance. East Godavari district bore the brunt of the storm as it made landfall near Katrenikona, forcing the evacuation of 20,000 people, who have been sheltered in relief camps.