With the severe Cyclone Michaung poised for landfall by the Bapatla coast, Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, which will have impacts in Tamil Nadu’s coastal areas, administration in both states prepared all the arrangements to tackle the cyclone.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy directed officials to be on high alert for taking up relief measures. In view of the heavy rain lashing Andhra Pradesh under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm, the state government issued an alert for eight districts — Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema and Kakinada — while the chief minister set several relief efforts in motion.
“Special officers have been appointed for all cyclone-affected districts, besides releasing Rs 2 crore each for rescue and relief works. The special officers will work in close coordination with the collectors and, if more funds are needed, the government will comply with the request,” Reddy said in a release.
The officials have been directed to focus on safeguarding crops, especially by procuring paddy and saving the kharif harvest. The government has also ordered the evacuation of people in the above-mentioned areas. As many as 181 relief camps have been opened and over 100 are ready to take in people.
By Monday evening, Kakinada had logged rainfall of 25 mm, Machilipatnam (28 mm), Nellore (76 mm), Ongole (34 mm), Tirupati (64 mm), Kavali (66 mm), Narasapuram (39 mm) and Tuni (20 mm), among others. “The weather system is expected to persist till Thursday and thereafter become a deep depression and subside,” the statement said. The IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall, accompanied
While, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said his government was taking all necessary measures on a war-footing to provide relief in the wake of Cyclone Michaung disrupting normal life. Relief measures in rain-affected regions are being implemented immediately, with various department personnel, including police, fire, and rescue, being deployed in large numbers as a preventive mechanism, he stated.
The weather department said the gales are also expected to gust with speeds reaching up to 110 kilometres per hour during Tuesday forenoon. The weather system is expected to persist till Thursday and thereafter become a deep depression and subside.