AP on alert as ‘Helen’ cyclone intensifies

Hyderabad, Nov 21: The Andhra Pradesh Government has intensified the rescue and relief operations in four coastal districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Krishna and Guntur in view of severe cyclonic storm “Helen.”

According to the latest IMD Bulletin, the cyclonic storm ‘Helen’ over west-central Bay of Bengal moved slightly west-northwestwards  and lay centred at 0230 hrs on Thursday near east-northeast of Chennai, 390 km east of Kavali, 270 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam and 250 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam. “The system would further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hrs. It would move west-northwestwards slowly for some time, then west-southwestward and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Machillipatnam, close to Ongole around Friday afternoon,” the Met Dept said.

As many as six NDRF teams have been pressed into service. One team each has been deployed in Kavali, Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts. The teams from the State Disaster Response Force have also been rushed. The fishermen have been instructed on cell phones not to venture into the sea.  The Civil Supplies Department has reserved the stocks of essential commodities. The medical and health department officials have also been kept on alert with adequate stocks of medicines and paramedical staff.

Since a majority of causalities in earlier cyclone and heavy rains occurred due to incidents of wall collapse, the Municipal officials have evacuated people living in dilapidated buildings. Helicopters too have been put on standby to rescue trapped people, if required.

A round the clock control room started functioning at the State Secretariat. Its telephone numbers are 040-23456005 and 23451043. Control rooms at district, division and mandal levels opened in Nellore, Prakasam, Krishna and Guntur districts. The District Collectors have been instructed to take all precautionary measures to ensure that people in low lying areas are evacuated to safer places and ensure zero casualties.

– INN