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AP gears up to face cyclonic storm

Four south coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh are bracing for any eventuality even as the cyclonic storm in the west central Bay of Bengal is likely to cross the coast on Wednesday evening or night.

Dr C V V Bhadram, director, Hyderabad Meteorological Centre, said on Wednesday morning that the cyclonic storm lay 400 km east of the coastal town of Nellore. After the storm moved about 50 km on Tuesday, there has not been much of movement for 12 hours. Light rains have been reported along the coast.

At the time of landfall [crossing the coast], the storm is likely to uproot trees, cause damage to houses and disrupt communication and hit electricity installations in the four coastal districts, the Cyclone Warning Centre said.

The sea is likely to be very rough and cautionary signals are being hoisted at Vodarevu, Nizampatnam, Krishnapatnam, Machilipatnam, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam and Bheemunipatnam ports. Fishermen have been warned against venturing into the sea as storm surges (tidal waves) of one metre above normal are expected, especially when the cyclonic storm crosses the coast.

The district administration in the south coastal districts has been put on "high alert" to meet any eventuality, while the authorities in three north coastal districts have been placed on "moderate alert".

However, the northernmost districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, bordering Orissa, are not under threat.

The state government has asked the army, air force and navy to be on standby to assist the district authorities in evacuation and rescue operations. Helicopters and naval boats are also being requisitioned.

The district authorities have kept vehicles ready in the coastal districts for evacuating people from vulnerable areas to shelters and other safe places. Revenue personnel have been provided wireless and HAM radio sets for monitoring the situation in the coastal villages.

Evacuation from low-lying coastal settlements in Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts began on Wednesday morning, State Relief Department officials said.

Essential commodities and medicines have been stocked in coastal areas and relief and rescue teams are ready to move into vulnerable areas at short notice.

The forecast is that the storm is likely to intensify, move in a west north-westerly direction and cross the coast between Nellore and Machilipatnam on Wednesday evening or night. Strong gales may blow along and off the coast at speeds of 90 to 100 kmph in Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts in the southern coast and at 60 to 70 kmph in West Godavari, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts in the northern coastal Andhra before and at the time the storm crosses the coast.

Under the storm's impact, most places in coastal Andhra are likely to experience moderate to heavy rain in 48 hours.

Some places in south coastal districts may experience heavy to very heavy rains. A few places in Rayalaseema region (interior Andhra) may experience light to moderate rain. Isolated rain is likely in Telangana.

Panchayat and civic administrations have been asked to keep drinking water tankers ready for despatch to the coastal villages.

Cyclone shelters have been cleaned up and elevated spots have been identified for cattle owners to leave their animals. Power generators have been kept on standby at many places. Machines have also been mobilised for cutting trees and clearing roads.

Irrigation Department officials are also on alert to monitor water bodies and rivulets along the coast. Irrigation sources are full due to good rainfall and fresh rain may lead to breaches and flooding.

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