Cyclone Phethai : The IMD in its latest release said that the cyclone will be accompanied by a wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph off South Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts.
Coastal areas in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are on high alert as a deep depression developing over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a cyclonic storm. Dubbed as Phethai, the cyclone is headed towards the coastal areas of Machilipatnam in Andhra and Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Anticipating the storm, 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, while another nine (of five members each) have been positioned in West Godavari district for road clearance, PTI reported.
The cyclone is likely to cross the coast between Ongole and Kakinada on Monday, causing heavy rainfall in the region. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest press release said that the cyclone will be accompanied with wind speeds reaching 45-55 kmph to 65 kmph off South Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. 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.
Sixteen teams of Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services are on standby at Rajamahendravaram, while another nine (of five members each) have been positioned in West Godavari district for road clearance, PTI reported.
The cyclone is likely to cross the coast between Ongole and Kakinada on Monday, causing heavy rainfall in the region. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in its latest press release said that the cyclone will be accompanied with wind speeds reaching 45-55 kmph to 65 kmph off South Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coasts. 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.