Cyclone 'Jal' weakens a bit, govt remains alert

Impending cyclonic storm ‘Jal’ has been downgraded from ‘very severe’ to ‘severe,’ but the government machinery continued to remain on high alert on Sunday, opening close to 300 relief centres to house people evacuated from five coastal districts.

Citing the 11 am bulletin of the India Meteorological Department, Revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao told a media conference that the storm winds were now in the range of 80 - 100 kmph speed, which makes it 'severe.'

He said the cyclone is expected to cross the coast between Chennai and Nellore some time during Sunday evening or night.

"Relief efforts this time are very systematic with close consultation with local teams at the grassroots level. The government has opened 56 assistance and relief centres in Nellore district, 168 in Prakasam, 65 in East Godavari, five in Krishna and one in West Godavari," he said.

Nine fishermen went missing between East and West Godavari districts, and the Indian Coast Guard has been entrusted with the search and rescue operation in co-ordination with the district authorities, Rao said.

Rao said evacuation started in some places, while preparations had been made in others. He asked the affected or those facing the prospect not to resist evacuation efforts and to cooperate with the officials.