Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has put officials on high alert as a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is forecast to strengthen into a very severe cyclonic storm, The Hindu reports.
Forecasts presented at a review meeting on Sunday said the system, about 850km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, could make landfall between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on 28 October, possibly along the Konaseema-Yanam-Kakinada coast. Winds of 115-125km/h, gusting to 140km/h, are expected, with heavy to extremely heavy rain in northern and central coastal districts on 27 and 28 October.
Ten National Disaster Response Force teams and 11 state teams are on standby. Naidu ordered boats at sea back to shore, told fishermen not to go out, and asked officials to prepare evacuation centres, food, water, medical help and power restoration.
Source: The Hindu
