No end to the weather woes in Andhra Pradesh, after cyclone Phailin and cyclone Helen, the state now braces for cyclone Lehar which will make landfall on Thursday. Costal Odisha has also been put on high alert.
According to weather officials, Leher is about 700-800 kms from the coast and landfall is expected by Thursday noon. Heavy rains can be expected in the coastal districts from wednesday evening with the cyclonic system inching towards the coast.
The cyclone intensity would gradually increase with rainfall being witnessed at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places. Isolated extremely heavy falls would occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 28.
Squally winds, with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph, would commence along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from November 27 evening. The very severe cyclonic storm is expected to cause extensive damage to agriculture crops, kutcha houses and disrupt power and communication lines and also disrupt rail and road traffic.
The official bulletin has advised total suspension of fishing operations and fishermen out at sea along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts have been advised to return to coast. It also advised evacuation from coastal areas and judicious regulation of rail and road traffic. People in affected areas have been advised to remain indoors.
The government has already put the Collectors of coastal districts on high alert and announced a number of measures to deal with the situation. The East Godavari district has announced holiday for educational institutions on Wednesday and Thursday and also asked the owners of small shops not to operate.
The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to deploy 30 teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) for rescue and relief operations in the coastal districts. While 15 NDRF teams have already been positioned in Visakhapatnam (4), East Godavari (5), West Godavari (2) and Krishna (4) districts, the state government today requested the Centre to rush in another 15 teams as moderate to very heavy rainfall is expected from tomorrow, according to an official press release.
The Union Defence Secretary has been requested to station four helicopters at Visakhapatnam for emergency operations wherever required. Special officers have been appointed in nine coastal districts to oversee precautionary measures as well as rescue and relief operations.
Coast Guard, Coastal Security wing, Marine Police and Superintendents of Police of the districts concerned were put on alert in view of the cyclone and assist the district administration. Army and railway authorities have also been put on alert in view of Lehar's threat, the release added.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy discussed the situation with Chief Secretary PK Mohanty and wanted the administration to remain on high alert and take all steps to prevent loss of life due to cyclone. Mohanty is in constant touch with the Collectors of coastal districts and monitoring the preparedness.
Meanwhile, an official release informed that newly-formed State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) consisting of 450 personnel drawn from police, fire services etc., is also being deployed for rescue operations. The evacuation will begin on Wednesday, the release said.
The government has also decided to requisition four columns of Army, each comprising 100 men, which will be deployed at Eluru, Kakinada, Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam.
Meanwhile, a release from South Central Railway (SCR) said that an action plan was being finalised to face the situation arising out of the cyclone 'Lehar'. SCR General Manager P K Srivastava met the state chief secretary and held discussions on the approaching cyclone and its likely impact on railways.
Meanwhile, West Godavari district collector Siddharth Jain said in a statement on Tuesday that 500 Army jawans and four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are on standby to face any eventualities which may result due to cyclone 'Lehar'.
"One NDRF team will be in Eluru while the other three teams will be stationed in those areas of the district which are likely to be hit by the cyclone," he said. Jain said a helicopter was waiting at Visakhapatnam to speed up relief and rescue operations if the need for it arose.
"Besides, 30 wireless sets are in place to strengthen communications," he added. Also, motor boats, rescue personnel and ambulances have been kept on standby.
Jain said people in 37 villages had been shifted to relief camps as a precautionary measure.
After cyclone Phailin and cyclone Helen last week, a new severe cyclonic storm, named cyclone Lehar is looming over the southeast Bay of Bengal and is expected to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada a little after noon on Thursday.
As of now the system is said to be moving westwards with a speed of 15 kmph till evening today, but the system would intensify further and move west-northwestwards. From moderate rains and squally winds at 45-55 km per hour tomorrow, windspeeds could be upto 200 km as the system comes closer.
33 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are being deployed. There will be 16 teams in East Godavari, six each in Vizag and Krishna and five teams in West Godavari.
With the sea coast expected to be rough, extensive damage to kutcha houses, disruption of communication and power lines, road and rail traffic can be expected. There could be potential threat from flying debris and flooding of escape routes and also extensive damage to agricultural crops, a release issued by the state's disaster commissioner has warned.
Fishermen out at sea along and off Andhra Pradesh have been advised to return to coast. Evacuation from low-lying areas in four districts, Krishna, East and West Godavari and Visakhapatnam, will be undertaken from tomorrow. Special officers have been nominated for the nine coastal districts. Round the clock control rooms at Secretariat- 040 - 23452144 and 23451043 have been opened and operating.
The state government has also sought four helicopters from defence secretary to be stationed at Visakhapatnam. Along with the Army and Railways, the Coast Guard, Coastal Security wing, Marine Police, and district police have been alerted.
District Collectors have been asked to ensure adequate supplies of food, drinking water, medicines, fuel in vulnerable areas. Evacuation from low-lying areas could begin tomorrow afternoon. Relief centres are also being opened.
Out of 580 marine villages in nine coastal districts, 529 villages have been contacted so far. Out of 6160 boats that have ventured into sea 5550 boats have returned.
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