Nellore: Collector KVN Chakradhar Babu alerts officials on impending cyclone

Nellore: District administration sounded alert on the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal as the IMD predicted that it would further strengthen as a cyclonic storm on Tuesday. Nellore district is likely to receive heavy to very heavy rains for three days on November 24, 25, and 26. Some places in the south coast would receive extremely heavy rains and the district collector K V N Chakradhar Babu conducted an emergency teleconference on Monday and asked the officials to depute 118 special officers for various vulnerable places in all 12 mandals.

He also directed the fisheries department to alert the fishermen in the sea asking them to back to the shore. People from vulnerable areas should be shifted to safe shelters, schools and colleges, and other places well in advance. In all division and mandal headquarters, cyclone control centres will be started immediately, he said.

Chakradhar Babu also said that walkie-talkies, boats, and ace swimmers be ready for meeting any unforeseen instances. He asked the irrigation officials to release excess water from the water bodies for managing the levels. Officials also asked the farmers to harvest the fully grown crops for avoiding any damages due to heavy rains. 1077 helpline is working round-the-clock at the District Emergency Operations Centre and the people can call for any help. Stating there was a possibility of flood in River Penna, he asked the officials to be alert in coastal villages.