10 NDRF, SDRF teams deployed in Andhra

PNS|Vijayawada

Ten teams of NDRF and Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Response Force have been deployed in south coastal districts of the State following a heavy rainfall alert by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a top official said on Friday.

According to the IMD, heavy rainfall is predicted over several parts of the State as cyclone ‘Mandous’ over the Bay of Bengal is expected to cross the coast between the Union Territory of Puducherry, and Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, tonight.

“As of now, there are no heavy rains. Collectors of the six districts which are expected to receive heavy rainfall due to the cyclone have been alerted and control rooms also been opened,” B.R Ambedkar, director of the State Disaster Management, said.

“Five NDRF and another five SDRF teams have been kept ready. We are also ready to evacuate people in case of emergency,” he further said. Cyclone alert messages have been sent through common alert protocol (CAP) to as many as 89 lakh subscribers spread across the six districts which are likely to be affected due to heavy rains during December 8-10, according to official information.

The Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday held a meeting here on Mandous with the officials concerned. He said adequate precautions should be taken by the authorities from time to time. The officials informed the Chief Minister that rain was predicted in the districts of Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor and others.

Meanwhile, the educational institutions in Chittoor district were declared holiday due to heavy rains. The families of fishermen at Tadakuppam in Sullurpet constituency were shifted to safer places. As torrential rains induced by cyclone lashed on Friday, Tirupati district Collector K Venkata Ramana Reddy said 24×7 control rooms were set up across all mandal headquarters and district headquarters.

Speaking to media here at his chamber, the Collector said officials and people have been alerted and called for more caution in coastal mandals of Chilkur, Kota,Vakadu ,Sullurpeta, and Tada mandals. Since heavy downpour has been recorded since morning at KVB Puram, he advised fishermen to not go fishing at any cost. 126 relief camps ready with shelter, food, drinking water, medicines and arrangements made to shift diabetic, pregnant women and challenged persons in advance.

Among others Roads & Buildings and Panchayat Raj departments to identify cyclone prone roads, NDRF teams kept ready at Gudru , and Naidupeta ,203 fishermen who sailed to sea brought back safely, revenue divisional officers supervising relief operations at Tirupati, Sullurpeta, Gudur. He appealed to people to not come out of homes unless emergency needs. The farmers in the affected district are seen making efforts to protect their paddy crop at their fields. The paddy harvest is in full swing across the state.