VISAKHAPATNAM:
Cyclone Phethai is expected to make landfall between Vizag and Kakinada coasts on Monday, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday.
The cyclone is moving at a speed of 20kmph. Squally winds are prevailing on the coast from Sunday morning.
At present, the cyclone has been located around 500kms away from Kakinada and 600kms away from Visakhapatnam coast.
It is very likely to
intensify
into a severe cyclone by Sunday evening but intensity will increase while crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast between Visakhapatnam and Kakinada coasts on Monday, said K Naga Ratna, director, IMD, Hyderabad Centre.
The Cyclone Phethai is not stronger than cyclone Titli which had destroyed
Srikakulam district
on October this year, Naga Ratna said.
Visakhapatnam joint collector G Srijana visited Payakaraopeta, border coastal mandal of East Godavari and Visakhapatnam district on Sunday to check cyclone preparedness.
Srijana said, "Five coastal mandals in Visakhapatnam south have been put on high alert."
Trees and electricity poles were uprooted at Uppalaguptam coastal mandal of East Godavari district.
East Godavari collector
Kartikeya
Mishra said that a total 295 villages of 17 coastal mandals in the district would severely be affected by the cyclone Phethai.
Control rooms were set up at Kakinada and Amalapuram in the district, Mishra said.
V Kamalakara Rao, Senior Correspondent, The Times of India, based...
Read MoreV Kamalakara Rao, Senior Correspondent, The Times of India, based in Visakhapatnam, covers mainly civic bodies including Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), transport including Indian Railways, Airports and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, power sector including Eastern Power Distribution Company of AP Limited. He is a nature lover and likes to spend time amidst nature.
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