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Amaravati, Oct 27 (IANS) The impact of Cyclone Montha brought heavy rains along with strong winds in coastal Andhra on Monday, which is likely to intensify into a severe cyclone by Tuesday morning before crossing the coast between Machilipatnam and Kakinada in the evening or night, affecting 1,419 villages and 44 towns, officials said.
The entire coastal region in the state is on high alert as the cyclone is likely to cause extremely heavy rainfall with strong winds reaching speeds of 90-110 kmph.
Authorities have advised people to stay indoors, while residents of coastal areas likely to be affected have been asked to move to relief camps.
Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) Managing Director Prakhar Jain said on Monday night that Month was centered over west central Bay of Bengal, 420 km from Chennai, 500 km from Visakhapatnam and 450 km from Kakinada. During the last six hours it moved at a speed of 15 km per hour.
It is likely to move north-northwest and turn into a severe cyclonic storm by Tuesday morning. It is likely to cross the coast between Machilipatnam and Kakinada tomorrow evening/night.
Extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places, very heavy rainfall from Srikakulam to Nellore and heavy rainfall over parts of Rayalaseema is likely.
According to him, the cyclone is likely to affect 1,419 villages in 233 mandals and 44 municipalities. Authorities have already opened 2,194 relief camps in these areas.
Where necessary, the administration is ready to shift people to relief camps. Special attention has been given to the care of 3,465 pregnant women/lactating mothers.
He said a total of 558 control rooms have been set up, which include one state control room, 19 district control rooms, 54 revenue division control rooms.
16 satellite phones, 35 DMR sets and other equipment have been made available in the districts for communication arrangements.
As the sea condition is rough and high tidal waves are likely, fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. All activities on the coast have been suspended. Authorities have closed beaches to tourists while danger signal number one has been hoisted at all ports.
As a precautionary measure, South Central Railway and East Coast Railway have announced cancellation of more than 100 trains for the next two days.
Eleven teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 12 teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have reached the coastal districts for relief operations, while a few more teams are available at the headquarters.
The impact of the cyclone was already visible on Monday and some coastal areas received moderate to heavy rainfall with strong winds of around 40 kmph. Till 8 pm on Monday night, Visakhapatnam Rural recorded the highest rainfall of 92.5 mm, followed by Kapuluppada 85.5 mm, Madhurwada 83.5 mm, Seetamdhara 81.2 mm while 73 areas recorded more than 50 mm rainfall.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu reviewed the situation from the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS) center at the state secretariat and said the administration was fully prepared to face any situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over phone and discussed the situation in the state due to the impact of the cyclone. He assured all assistance and support to the state.
The Chief Minister directed District Collectors and SPs to immediately shift people from coastal areas affected by the cyclone to relief camps.
Since the impact of the cyclone is likely to intensify from Tuesday, he directed officials to alert people.
The Chief Minister said teams equipped with machinery are ready to restore power supply, repair roads, restore drainage systems and remove fallen trees.
The Chief Minister directed officials to keep an hour-by-hour monitoring of the cyclone activity and take zero-risk measures, especially in coastal and low-lying settlements.
He also appealed to the citizens to stay indoors and remain alert until all clear instructions are issued.
Real Time Governance Minister Nara Lokesh is coordinating the inter-departmental response, communication system and district-level preparedness from the RTGS war room.
–IANS
MS/PGH