Cyclone Phethai updates: Storm to make landfall in Andhra by afternoon; 22 trains cancelled
Amaravati, Dec 17: Cyclone Phethai is expected to make a landfall around Kakinada on Monday afternoon. Dubbed as Phethai, the cyclone is set to hit Andhra Pradesh coast with a wind speed of up to 70-90 kmph.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been put on high alert along with the Coast Guard. Sixteen teams of Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services are on standby at Rajamahendravaram.
The IMD has called for a total suspension of fishing operations along and off Andhra Pradesh coast on Sunday and Monday, advising fisherman to not venture into deep sea along and off Andra, north Tamilnadu and Puducherry coasts till 17th December.
''It's very likely to move nearly northwards & cross Andhra coast around Kakinada during 17th Dec afternoon. However, due to unfavourable environmental conditions, it's likely to weaken before landfall & cross the coast as cyclonic storm,'' the IMD dept said.
Cyclone Phethai over west central & adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved northwards in past 6 hrs & lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of 17th Dec over west central Bay of Bengal, 320 km east-northeast of Chennai, 160 km southeast of Machilipatnam & 190 km south of Kakinada.
In Andhra Pradesh: 22 passenger trains have been cancelled, one train rescheduled and one train partially cancelled in view of the rainfall due to Cyclone Phethai. The cyclone is expected to make a landfall this afternoon.
Rainfall at most places will be heavy, very heavy at few places and extremely heavy at isolated places over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district of Pondicherry on Monday. After cyclones Daye and Titli this year, the threat of Phethai looms large over Andhra Pradesh.
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 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.