First Cyclone of the 2005 monsoon season hits coast of Andrah Pradesh

In the seven worst hit areas of East and West Godavari, Khammam, Krishna, Guntur, Nalgonda and Warangal, thousands of people's homes were flooded. Army helicopters were pressed into service to rescue people trapped by the floodwaters. Altogether 140,000 people have been evacuated from 10 districts. Bhavanipuram, Singhnagar, Rajarajeswarapeta and Ramalingeswara Nagar in Vijayawada were swamped, leaving some 25,000 people stranded. Towns like Bhadrachalam, Rajmundry and Vijayawada City were also completely flooded. The number of people left homeless is estimated at 200,000 while more than 50,000 people have been evacuated to safer places (such as relief camps) since Tuesday. Food parcels have been dropped from helicopters in some areas.

While the situation in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam is improving, the water levels in Godavari River at Bhadrachalam and Rajamundry continues to rise steadily - cause for concern in surrounding areas. The Godavari was flowing at the 17 feet (5,18 m) mark near Dowleswaram, even as officials opened all the sluice gates. Though the rain has subsided in most parts of the state, major rivers like the Godavari and the Krishna continue to be in spate. The water level at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district too crossed its third warning level at 58 feet (17,68 m) and is likely to increase even more.

Although the cyclone is named Pyaar, which Hindi speakers recognize to mean 'love', in this instance it actually means 'flattened', as it is a Myanmarese word.

The rainfall, measuring 460 mm, has paralyzed normal life completely and has damaged thousands of acres of crops. Train services have been either cancelled or diverted. Bus services also ground to a halt. The New Delhi-bound Tamil Nadu Express was stranded for over 16 hours at a wayside station, as the tracks were under water. Floodwaters from the Krishna submerged National Highway 9 and the Machilipatnam-Hyderabad road, disrupting traffic. For the third day in a row, all flights from Visakhapatnam were cancelled, as the runway remained under water.

The Chief Minister Mr. Y. S Rajasekhar Reddy did an aerial survey of the Khammam, Krishna, East and West Godavari districts. He announced that $114 (Rs. 5,000) would be given to people in Khammam. People who have lost their houses - some 80 - will get pucca houses (cement or concrete constructions). He also announced that loans would be rescheduled and that seeds would be supplied on subsidy.

(Sources: The Indian Express, The Times of India and Hindustan Times of 21 and 22 September 2005)

ACT members in India – Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action (CASA), the Lutheran World Service India (LWSI) and), United Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India (UELCI), are in contact with each other to coordinate the response. They have received many requests for assistance from the member churches, such as the Andhra Pradesh Evangelical Lutheran Church, the CSI Diocese of Krishna & Godavari and the Council of Churches in Andhra Pradesh.

ACT member CASA has already deployed its staff in the affected areas for a rapid assessment of the damage and the relief and rehabilitation efforts needed.

ACT member UELCI, through its member church Andrah Pradesh Evangelical Lutheran Church (AELC), is planning to respond in nine places in six districts providing emergency food to 20,500 people in 41 feeding centers; 6000 relief kits containing dhoti, sarees, blankets and utensils and medicines to 6,000 families.

The ACT members will keep the ACT Coordinating Office (ACT CO) updated as the situation changes.

The ACT CO is coordinating a request for Funds from the Rapid Response Fund as well as anticipating a request for an appeal including one or more of the members.