Andhra Pradesh ready to tackle cyclone

Visakhapatnam/ Vijayawada: The deep depression that has formed over the southeast Bay of Bengal is moving northwestwards with a speed of 16 kmph towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. The system is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by Sunday evening. The cyclone will be named Phethai if it intensifies into a cyclonic storm. At present, the deep depression lies centered over the southeast and adjoining the southeast Bay of Bengal at about 840 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam of Andhra Pradesh and 670-km east-southeast of Chennai of Tamil Nadu.

The Indian Meteorological Department issued Yellow Message to the Andhra Pradesh government alerting that the system would move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada by Monday afternoon. The IMD alerted the government that the condition of the sea is very rough and high tides of a height of 4 to 5 metres are likely on Saturday and Sunday. The wind speed would be from 45 to 60 kmph on Sunday and while the system is crossing the coast, the wind speed might reach 90 to 110 kmph, the IMD said.

Rainfall is expected at many places with heavy falls at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh from Sunday morning. Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and extremely heavy falls, of about 20 cm, at isolated places, is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh from Sunday evening. Distant cautionary signal number three hoisted at Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam, and Krishnapatnam ports. Distant cautionary signals with section signal number hoisted at Gangavaram and Kakinada ports. Meanwhile, the state government has made necessary arrangements to prevent loss of life and property to the extent possible.The Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) and 1100 call center are also monitoring the situation. 

The state government has already started call centres at all the Collectorates. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Chief Secretary Anil Chandra Puneetha also reviewed the situation on Saturday. The officials of the RTGS are monitoring various government departments regarding the precautionary measures. The cyclone warnings and suggestions on cyclone are being done by the team of 1100 staff.  Meanwhile, the state government’s Marketing and Agricultural departments are continuing their paddy purchase counters at nights also.