Hyderabad:
Barely a week after being hit by cyclone Helen, Andhra Pradesh is now on alert for "very severe" cyclonic storm "Lehar" that is expected to make landfall in the state around Thursday afternoon, packed with wind speed reaching up to 170 kmph.
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Cyclone Lehar is likely to make land fall near Machillipatnam, nearly 300 km from state capital Hyderabad. It is currently 650 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam.
Under the influence of the system, many places in coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam district of Puducherry and Odisha are likely to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall from today evening.
The weather department has also warned that winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would commence along and off Andhra Pradesh from today.
Storm surge of about 2.0-3.0 metres above astronomical tide is likely inundate low lying areas of west and east Godavari, Guntur and Krishna districts of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district of Puducherry at the time of the landfall. People from these districts are being evacuated and moved to safer places.
District Collectors have been asked to ensure adequate supplies of food, drinking water, medicines, fuel in vulnerable areas and relief centres. All educational institutions in the east Godavari district have been ordered to remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Shops and business establishments will remain shut tomorrow.
The Centre has assured all help to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to deal with the situation. 33 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to help in relief and rescue operations.
The Army, the Navy and the Coast Guard have been alerted. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea while those already in the sea have been asked to return.
A statement issued by the state's disaster commissioner has warned that the cyclone is likely to cause extensive damage to kutcha houses, disrupt communication and power lines and damage agricultural crops.
The latest warning has triggered fear among residents of coastal areas of the state that has already experienced two cyclones since October.
Cyclone Helen hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on Friday last, forcing authorities to evacuate thousands of people. It left six people dead and caused extensive damage to standing crops. Cyclone Phailin, that made landfall in Ganjam district of Odisha on October 12, also caused extensive damage in Andhra Pradesh last month.
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