Krishna district administration gears up for Phethai cyclone

Vijayawada: Krishna district administration is on high alert in nine coastal mandals in view of the cyclonic storm Phethai, which is likely to landfall on the coastline on Sunday night or Monday. 

District Collector B Lakshmikantham on Saturday reviewed the arrangements for the cyclone. At least, 170 villages and habitations in nine mandals of the district will be affected due to the impact of cyclone. 

Special teams were constituted in Koduru, Nagayalanka, Kruthivennu, Bantumilli, Machilipatnam, Nagaya lanka, Avanigadda, Mopidevi and Pedana mandals to take up rescue and relief works.  

Control rooms were set up at the district collectorate in Machilipatnam and revenue divisions in Vijayawada, Gudivada and Nuzvid.

Drinking water and other facilities were arranged at 50 cyclone shelters in the district and buses, tractors and other vehicles were kept ready for evacuation in case of emergency from the cyclone affected areas.

In all, 99 cyclone warning sirens, 300 electric poles, 129 generators, 69 cranes and tankers were kept ready as part of the preparedness. Two State Disaster Response teams comprising 60 members were deployed in Nagayalanka and Koduru mandals. 

Besides, three fire stations with 120 staff were kept ready in the sea shore areas of the district. 

Drinking water facility with chlorination was made in 153 protected water tanks and essential commodities were kept ready for distribution in 262 fair price shops. 

District level officers were appointed as in-charges in nine mandals to supervise the rescue and relief operations.