Lehar moving menacingly towards Machilipatnam

HYDERABAD: The severe cyclonic storm Lehar over southeast Bay of Bengal is moving slowly at a speed of 15 kmph and lay centred over the southeastern Bay of Bengal, about 360 km west-northwest of Port Blair and 990 km east-southeast of Machilipatnam. It will intensify further and move west-northwestwards and cross the AP coast near Machilipatnam around November 28.

The forecast for the state was that moderate rainfall at many places would commence from Wednesday afternoon over north coastal AP. The intensity would gradually increase with rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rain at a few places, and isolated extremely heavy rains over north coastal AP on Thursday, according to weather reports.

Squally wind speeds reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would commence along and off AP from Wednesday evening. It would increase in intensity with gale wind speeds reaching 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along and off the coastal districts of Krishna, West and East Godavari and Vishakhapatnam districts; and 120-130 kmph gusting to 140 kmph over Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Guntur districts of coastal AP at the time of landfall.

Squally wind speeds reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph would prevail along and off the remaining districts of AP at the time of landfall.

The state of sea along and off AP will be rough to very rough from the evening of November 27 and will become phenomenal on Thursday along and off north coastal AP and adjoining south coastal AP.

Damage can be expected in the north coastal districts. Disruption of power and communication lines and kuthca houses may occur. Disruption of rail and road traffic may be caused besides extensive damage to agricultural crops. Fishermen have been advised not venture into the sea.

Special officers have been nominated for the nine coastal districts. Round-the-clock control rooms at the Secretariat with helplines 040- 23452144 and 23451043 have been put in place and are now operational.

As many as 15 additional NDRF teams have been requisitioned. A total of 30 NDRF teams will be placed at major places for rescue and relief operations. As on Tuesday, NDRF teams placed are as follows: Vizag - 4 teams, East Godavari - 5 teams, West Godavari - 2 teams and Krishna - 4 teams. Officials also sought help from defence officials for providing four helicopters to be stationed at Visakhapatnam.

District collectors can declare holidays for schools in the event of heavy rainfall. Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation on cyclone Lehar with officials.