New Delhi: The Andhra Pradesh government on Sunday put all nine coastal districts on high alert as severe cyclonic storm Phethai is set to make landfall on Monday afternoon. According to latest information, the storm is about 160 km southeast of Machilipatnam and 190 km south of Kakinada. It is moving in the northern direction and is likely to cross Kakinada by the afternoon.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that though the storm weakened slightly, it continues as a severe cyclonic storm. It is expected to cross the coast with wind speed of 70-90 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph.
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The government has put the State and National Disaster Response Forces on standby. On Sunday, rain and strong winds were observed in several parts of the coastal region, especially Krishna district. Rain was also experienced in Hyderabad, the capital city of Telangana.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu directed officials to take precautionary measures and prevent loss of lives.
Forecasted path of Cyclone Phethai. Credit: Doordarshan
The Cyclone Warning Centre predicted a storm surge of up to one metre, warning that it could inundate the low lying areas of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district of Puducherry at the time of landfall.
Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea.
The IMD said that heavy rainfall is expected to accompany the cyclone. According to The News Minute, West Godavari’s Seethanagaram recorded 83.5 mm of rainfall by 4:30 am on Monday.
“Damage to thatched huts, minor damage to power and communication lines due to breaking of branches, damage to roads, uprooting of small trees and some damage to paddy crops, banana, papaya trees and orchards could occur. Sea water inundation in low lying areas after erosion of embankments could also occur,” the Cyclone Warning Centre based in Visakhapatnam said.
Several trains and flights from the coastal region were cancelled. According to the news agency ANI, 22 trains have been cancelled, while one has been rescheduled.