Cyclone Phethai: 1 Killed in Andhra Pradesh as Storm Crosses Kakinada, Moves Northeastward

Visakhapatnam: As cyclone Phethai made landfall in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district on Monday afternoon, one person was killed in landslide in Vijayawada city. However, State Disaster Management Authority said that no casualties have been reported from elsewhere so far.

A holiday has been declared for educational institutions in the coastal districts of the state as a precautionary measure.

At least 23 passenger trains were cancelled, while one was rescheduled and another partially cancelled as the cyclone moved at a speed of 16 km per hour towards East Godavari district. Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed collectors of coastal regions to take all precautions to prevent loss of lives.

The cyclone crossed the coast of Kakinanda and Machlipatnam between 11.30 am and 2.30 pm. Over 300 villages have been put on high alert in north coastal belt, while about 10,000 state government staff, including 1,000 police personnel, 500 disaster management personnel have been deployed.

According to an official, a severe cyclone, centered around 125 km away from Kakinada, crossed the coast between Yanam and Thuni on Monday. Coastal areas in Eastern Ghats, Pachima Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts are expected to receive heavy rainfall. Winds at a speed of 80 to 90 km per hour will hit Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

IndiGo airlines also stated that flights are likely to be affected due to the cyclone.

Banana and horticulture farmers are advised to store paddy, sorghum and other grains. "If the grain is still in the fields, tarpaulin should be used to cover the crops. Farmers can get these from farm officials," the official said.

People living in low-lying should have also been asked to immediately move to safe places. "No one should come out of their homes until the storm crosses the coast. Do not stay in the vehicles on roads and do not get under the trees. Residents of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam should be more careful," he added.

Parts of the coastal region, especially Krishna district, on Sunday started experiencing rains and strong winds.

The National Disaster Response Force team has also been put on alert by various district administrations along the coastal regions. Control rooms with their numbers are:

Machilipatnam: 08672-252486

Guidwada: 08674-243697

Nuzvid: 08656-232717

Vijayawada: 0866-2574454

In West Bengal, heavy rain is likely to occur over one or two places in Howrah, East and West Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, Jhargram and Hooghly district on Monday. Strong wind, with speeds reaching 30 to 40 km per hour is likely to blow over northwest Bay of Bengal, the Met said in its forecast.

Many places in Odisha such as Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Baragarh, Balangir, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts would experience heavy rainfall on Monday, the department said.

It also forecast light to moderate rainfall and thundershower in many places, mainly south Odisha districts, till December 18. The Odisha government has already asked district collectors to take steps to protect paddy from the unseasonal rain.