High alert was issued in Andhra Pradesh as cyclonic storm 'Phethai' is likely to make landfall on Monday. According to the MeT department, the cyclone is most likely to cross the region between Kakinada and Vishakapatnam.

Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) of the state government alerted all nine coastal districts. The State Disaster Response Force (SRDF) and National Disaster Response Force were kept on standby.

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

MeT department stated that the Cyclone Phethai is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Andhra coast around Kakinada on Monday afternoon. However, due to unfavourable environmental conditions, it's likely to weaken before landfall & cross the coast as cyclonic storm.

22 passenger trains have been cancelled, one train rescheduled and one train partially cancelled in view of the rainfall due to the cyclonic storm.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu directed the Collectors of coastal districts to take all precaution to prevent loss of lives. According to Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, 'Phethai' will intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm over the next few hours and weaken slightly before making a landfall on Monday afternoon.

The MeT department has predicted rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh. Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph is likely along and off Andhra Pradesh. The gale speed may reach 100 kmph on Monday.

The Cyclone Warning Centre has warned storm surge of up to one metre could inundate the low lying areas of Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district of Puducherry at the time of landfall.

Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea.

Meanwhile, the MeT department also warned that cyclone Phethai is likely to trigger heavy rainfall in several parts of Odisha by Monday. Many areas including Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada, and Kalahanda are expected to be lashed by heavy downpour. The MeT department added that many places in the state including Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Baragarh, Balangir, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts would experience heavy downpour.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has asked the district collectors to take steps to protect paddy from the unreasonable rain. Farmers have been advised to reap the paddy in their field and bring it to a safe place. They have also been asked to collect the paddy stacks kept in the field for drying to a safe place and cover the paddy stacks.

Cyclone Phethai is the third cyclone in the northeast monsoon season after cyclones Gaja and Titli. In November, Cyclone Gaja claimed 45 lives and damaged over 1.17 lakh houses. At least 57 people died in Cyclone Titli in Odisha in October.