Cyclone formed in Bay of Bengal likely to cross Puducherry-Nellore coast near Chennai tomorrow morning
Amaravati, October 16 (HS). Andhra Pradesh Home and Disaster Management Minister Anita Vangalapudi said late this evening that as per IMD instructions, the air mass over west-central Bay of Bengal has increased by 17 km/h in the last six hours. It will move towards west-north-west at an hourly speed. As of Wednesday evening, the cyclone was centered 190 km south-east of Chennai, 250 km south-east of Puducherry and 270 km south-east of Nellore. It is learned that it is likely to cross Puducherry-Nellore coast near Chennai tomorrow i.e. Thursday morning.
A press note issued from the state secretariat said that Home and Disaster Management Minister Anita Vangalapudi is monitoring from time to time from the control room of the Disaster Management Agency office and instructions are being issued to the officials depending on the severity.
The Home Minister said that the government machinery is ready to face any situation even after crossing the coast tomorrow. He said that if there is power failure in the districts, electricity workers are ready with poles and wires to restore it immediately. If trees fall on the roads, JCBs have been made available to remove them immediately.
He said that till now there is no news of any loss of life or property due to heavy rains. The current rainfall situation is that on Wednesday, heavy rains have affected most of Prakasam 4, Nellore 10, Annamayya 4, Anantapur 2 and Tirupati 14 mandals.
He said there are 5 SDRF and 2 NDRF teams in Nellore, Tirupati, Kurnool, Prakasam and Bapatla districts for relief operations. He said that wherever necessary, rehabilitation centers and medical camps have been established. So far 827 coastal village residents have been moved to safer areas and 2,222 people have been moved to rehabilitation centers this evening. It is being told that many fishermen who had gone hunting in the sea have been brought back.
He said due to the impact of the cyclone, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely over the south coast and parts of Rayalaseema. Due to the rain, people in low-lying areas should remain alert as there is a possibility of flash floods in Prakasam, Nellore, Chittoor and Cuddapah districts. Also, people of Penna river basin have been advised to exercise caution.
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Hindusthan News / Nagaraj Rao
