AP on alert to face cyclone: CS

PNS|Vijayawada

Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy told Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba that the State machinery is well-prepared to face the cyclonic storm formed in the Bay of Bengal effectively.

The Cabinet Secretary on Tuesday reviewed from New Delhi through a video conference with chief secretaries of AP, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry the steps being taken to face the threat of the cyclone.

On the occasion, AP CS Jawahar Reddy said that the cyclone storm will affect mainly four South Andhra districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Chittoor, Ananthapur, and two other adjacent districts.

He said the authorities were already alerted in the respective districts and control rooms were set up from the mandal to the State level. Special attention is being paid to the weak bunds and reservoirs. Currently, 11 SDRF teams and 10 NDRF teams are made available, said CS Jawahar Reddy.

The AP CS further explained to the Cabinet Secretary that in view of the cyclone, fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea and those who have already gone fishing in the sea, should return to the shore immediately.

He further said, “We have fully alerted the machinery of the districts that would be affected by the cyclone and are fully prepared to deal with the cyclone effectively.”

During the video conference, Cabinet Secretary Rajeev Gauba said that the three states should be fully prepared to face the cyclone effectively. It is advised to alert the people living in slums, huts and mud houses. He directed the chief secretaries of the three State governments to be fully prepared to face any situation and to avoid any lapses in the pre-preparation arrangements for the cyclone.

BR Ambedkar, Director of State Disaster Management, Stella, State Director of India Meteorological Department and others participated in the video conference.

Meanwhile, a well-marked low-pressure area lay over the Southeast Bay of Bengal on Tuesday and is likely to move west, ­northwestwards and concentrated into a Depression over the Southeast Bay of Bengal that would intensify into a cyclonic storm around December 7 (Wednesday) and reach Southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamil Nadu­, Puducherry and adjoining South Andhra Pradesh coasts by December 8 morning, according to the Director, Meteorological centre, Amaravati.

Meteorological centre, Amaravati forecast heavy rains in South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) due to the impact of the cyclonic storm. Strong winds with a speed of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph are likely at isolated places in South Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Weather forecast for December 8. Heavy rain is likely at isolated places in SCAP.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely at isolated places in SCAP and Rayalaseema. Strong wind with a speed of 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is likely at isolated places in SCAP. On December 9, heavy to very heavy rain is expected at isolated places in SCAP and Rayalaseema regions. Strong winds with a speed of 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph are likely at isolated places in SCAP and Rayalaseema.

On December 10, 2022, heavy to very heavy rain likely at isolated places in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.