Live: Cyclone Helen crosses coastal Andhra Pradesh, two dead

7.40 pm: Cyclone Helen crosses coastal Andhra, two dead Cyclone Helen on Friday crossed Andhra Pradesh coast as a cyclonic storm close to southern areas of Machilipatnam in Krishna district. Two people were killed in separate rain-related incidents in Krishna district and 16,290 people were evacuated to safer places, AP State Disaster Management Commissioner C Parthasarathi told reporters in Hyderabad. 3.42 pm: Two killed as heavy rains lash coastal Andhra Two persons were killed in separate rain-related incidents as heavy rains lashed coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh under the influence of severe cyclonic storm ‘Helen’ over west-central Bay of Bengal. In view of the cyclone 8,000 people have been evacuated to safer places. 3,000 people have been evacuated to safer places in West Godavari district and are being provided essential items like food and medicines. According to officials, two persons died in Krishna district when trees fell on them. Efforts are underway to remove the large number of trees that fell on the roads after being uprooted by gale in the district, they said. 3.15 pm: Cyclone Helen makes landfall in Machilipatnam Cylone Helen has made a landfall in Machilipatnam, Krishna district of coastal Andhra Pradesh this afternoon. Nine districts of Andhra Pradesh had been put on alert and rescue teams were on stand by. 11,000 people have been evacuated from the region and have been moved to cyclone shelters in the state. Earlier this morning, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation with Chief Secretary P K Mohanty and asked the official machinery to be fully geared up to evacuate people from low-lying areas to prevent casualties. Heavy rains and gutsy winds were reported from other coastal districts like Guntur, East Godavari among others.