State ready for cyclone Leher

Created On: 27 Nov 2013 12:26 PM IST

State Ready for Cyclone Leher, Cyclonic ‘Leher’, Special Officers For Cyclone Leher. The IMD has warned that a storm surge of two to three metres would inundate low-lying areas of West and East Godavari, Vishakhapatnam and Krishna districts at the time of landfall.

Control Rooms set up at Secretariat, district hqrs
CM reviews preparedness, special officers appointed in all 9 coastal districts
In all 30 NRDF teams are in place
Leher windspeed may touch 200 kmph
Heavy rains, largescale destruction forecast

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness of the official machinery and different official agencies concerned to face the very severe cyclonic storm ‘Leher’, heading towards the AP coast. Chief Secretary P K Mohanty, who took part in the review, assured him of steps to prevent loss of lives and property. Special officers have been appointed for all the nine coastal districts which may bear the brunt of the cyclone.

The IMD has warned that a storm surge of two to three metres would inundate low-lying areas of West and East Godavari, Vishakhapatnam and Krishna districts at the time of landfall.

The cyclonic storm is centered 1,030 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam, 970 km from Kakinada in the state. "The system would intensify further and move west-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada around November 28 noon."

Round-the-clock control rooms have been opened ay the Secretariat and the district headquarters. Fifteen additional teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) requisitioned from government of India. In all 30 NDRF teams have been placed at major places for rescue and relief operations. Requisition was sent to Secretary, Defence, for providing four helicopters to be stationed at Visakhapatnam. These will be moved wherever necessary. Coast Guard, Coastal Security wing, Marine Police, and also SPs were informed to be alert in view of cyclone and assist the District administration.

Specialized teams of Emergency and Fire Services Dept trained in Disaster Management are being sent to districts for rescue and relief operations and to assist the District administration. All fishermen in the coastal districts have been alerted through the mobile phone database available with the Fisheries Department.

They have been asked not to go out to the sea for fishing in view of the Cyclone alert. There are adequate stocks of medicines with Health department available to meet any emergency. Medical Teams being sent to the coastal districts. The Collectors are directed to ensure adequate stocks of essential commodities like rice and kerosene are positioned in adequate quantities in all vulnerable villages. The District Collectors are asked to evacuate all families living in low-lying areas vulnerable to inundation.

Moderate rainfall at many places would commence from Wednesday afternoon over north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Intensity would gradually increase with rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on Thursday. Squally winds speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would commence along and off Andhra Pradesh from Wednesday evening.

It would increase in intensity with gale wind speed reaching 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along and off 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 Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.

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