Cyclone Lehar approaches landfall, Andhra on high alert

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh is on a high alert for the very severe cyclonic storm ‘Lehar’, which is expected to cross the coast around November 28 noon. The very severe cyclonic storm over southeast Bay of Bengal moved westwards with a speed of 15 kmph in the past six hours and lay centred at 1130 hours today, about 920 km east-southeast of Kakinada in coastal Andhra, an official bulletin said here today. [caption id=“attachment_1251445” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Destruction after Cyclone Phailin. PTI [/caption] The system would intensify further and move west-northwestwards and cross Andhra coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around November 28 noon, it said. Under the influence of the system, moderate rainfall at many places would commence from November 27 afternoon over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south coastal Odisha. Its intensity would gradually increase with rainfall being witnessed at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places. Isolated extremely heavy falls would occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on November 28. Squally winds, with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph, would commence along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from November 27 evening. It would increase in intensity with gale wind speed reaching 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph along and off coastal districts of Krishna, West and East Godavari and Vishakhapatnam districts and 120-130 kmph gusting to 140 kmph over Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Guntur districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall, the bulletin said. The very severe cyclonic storm is expected to cause extensive damage to agriculture crops, kutcha houses and disrupt power and communication lines and also disrupt rail and road traffic. The bulletin has advised total suspension of fishing operations and fishermen out at sea along and off Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts have been advised to return to coast. It also advised evacuation from coastal areas and judicious regulation of rail and road traffic. People in affected areas have been advised to remain indoors. The government has already put the Collectors of coastal districts on high alert and announced a number of measures to deal with the situation. The East Godavari district has announced holiday for educational institutions on Wednesday and Thursday and also asked the owners of small shops not to operate. PTI