Andhra braces for severe cyclone 'Phailin'

Heavy rains lashed parts of Andhra Pradesh Thursday under the impact of severe cyclonic storm 'Phailin' which has is set to hit the north Andhra and Odisha coast by Saturday night.

Vizianagaram, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts of coastal Andhra and some parts of Telangana experienced rains, inundating low-lying areas, officials said.

Wind with a speed of 45 to 50 km per hour (kmph) was blowing along the coast.

All nine coastal districts of the state went on high alert with the cyclonic storm nearing the coast. Heavy to very heavy rains are likely at some places in the coastal Andhra.

According to Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin Thursday evening, the cyclonic storm lay centred at about 800 km southeast of Paradip, 850 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam, and 870 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam.

"It would continue to move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur (Odisha) by evening of Oct 12, 2013 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 175-185 kmph," it said.

Chief Secretary P. K. Mohanty held a video conference with collectors of the coastal districts and directed them to evacuate people from low-lying areas near the coast and provide them shelter in relief camps. The officials were also asked to store essential commodities.

A section of government employees in coastal Andhra who were on strike for nearly two months to oppose the central government's decision to divide the state, returned to work Thursday to participate in relief and rehabilitation work.

Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister N. Raghuveera Reddy said the district officials were directed to seek help from the army, navy and air force for taking up rescue work wherever required.

Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre has warned fishermen against venturing into sea. Second warning signal was hoisted at Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam and other ports along nearly 1,000 km long coast.