4 AP districts to be evacuated ahead of cyclone

The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday directed collectors of four coastal districts to evacuate people in low-lying areas to safety ahead of severe cyclone Jal crossing the Bay of Bengal coast close to Nellore.

The cyclone is expected to cross the eastern coast late on Sunday evening and cause extensive damage in districts like Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Nellore and also have its impact on Chittoor district in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, according to Andhra Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao.

Personnel from the national disaster response force in Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu have been moved in and positioned in Nellore to help the administration in rescue and relief operations.

While the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force have been put on alert, the Navy has been requested to arrange boats and also keep helicopters on the standby for the rescue operations, Rao said.

Briefing mediapersons at Hyderabad after a high-level review meeting chaired by Andhra Chief Minister K Rosaiah on the severe cyclone that threatened the AP coast, the revenue minister said 35 mandals in four coastal districts were likely to face the brunt of Jal.

"Winds with a speed of 120-140 km and a heavy rainfall of 25 cm are likely under the impact of the severe cyclone. Accordingly, we have directed the district collectors to evacuate people in these mandals and lodge them in relief camps to be opened in the local schools," he added.

The state government was drawing from past experience and taking all steps to face the severe cyclone and minimise loss of human lives and destruction of properties, Rao said.

Senior Indian Administrative Service officers, who previously served as collectors, were being deputed to as special officers to the affected districts to supervise the relief and rescue operations and provide necessary guidance to the administration.

Elected representatives have been asked to help the administration in moving out people from vulnerable areas to safety, Rao said.