Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
Amaravati, Oct 26 (IANS) In view of the threat of cyclone ‘Montha’ in the Bay of Bengal, the Andhra Pradesh government has sent NDRF and SDRF teams to six coastal districts, appointed special officers for 19 districts and suspended all activities on the beaches.
According to Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Authority Managing Director Prakhar Jain, eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and nine teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been sent to the coastal district for rescue and relief operations.
In Krishna district, teams of 10th battalion of NDRF have been sent to PSR Nellore, Srikakulam, Dr. BR Ambedkar Konaseema, Kakinada, West Godavari and Krishna districts.
As the sea is rough and waves are expected to hit the shore, all fishing and boating activities have been suspended on the beaches.
All activities related to beaches and tourist entertainment have been suspended. Instructions have been issued to collectors of coastal districts to ban entry of tourists on beaches.
The Disaster Management Authority has advised people to avoid traveling between October 26 and October 29.
The depression over the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to turn into a cyclonic storm and cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada on Tuesday night.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said that at the time of landfall, the cyclone is likely to have a maximum speed of 90-100 kmph with gusty winds of up to 110 kmph.
On Sunday morning the depression lay about 610 km west of Port Blair (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), 850 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 790 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 840 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and 950 km south of Gopalpur (Odisha). Was concentrated in the south-southeast.
Heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely over coastal Andhra on Monday and Tuesday, with the disaster management authority urging people to remain alert.
As the first cyclonic storm of the season is likely to cross Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu alerted the officials and directed them to prepare an action plan to prevent loss of life and property.
Reviewing the situation, the Chief Minister directed officials to ensure that essential services are not disrupted.
The Chief Minister held a teleconference with District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police on Sunday in view of the possible cyclone. He said officials should be more alert as the IMD has issued a red alert in view of Cyclone Montha, which passed the coast near Kakinada on October 28.
He said that since the impact of the cyclone will extend from Srirakulam to Tirupati districts and there is a possibility of rainfall up to 100 mm, the district collectors should prepare an action plan for relief measures.
The Chief Minister said that if necessary, holiday should be declared in educational institutions and its information should be conveyed to the field level in real time. He said that NDRF and SDRF teams should be deployed in sensitive districts and hospital on wheels should be kept ready in Kakinada.
Meanwhile, Uppada Beach Road in Kakinada has been closed. People have been instructed not to come to the sea for Kartik bath.
The district administration has canceled leaves of officials till October 30 and set up control rooms in mandals likely to be affected by the cyclone.
Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand issued orders appointing special officers for 19 districts and entrusted them with the responsibility of coordinating relief and rehabilitation measures. The orders said that these officers should cooperate with the district administration and ensure that assistance is provided to the affected people.
The government has divided the state into three regions and appointed regional coordination officers. Senior IAS officer Ajay Jain will be in charge of the coastal areas from Srikakulam to Konaseema, while another senior IAS officer RP Sisodia will look after the area from West Godavari to Prakasam.
Officials were directed to immediately leave for their respective districts and set up cyclone control rooms with the help of district collectors. He was asked to coordinate the relief efforts undertaken by various departments.
–IANS
ms/dpb