Hyderabad: The cyclone continues 150 km southeast of Chennai. India Meteorological Department on Friday Expected that the low-pressure area will cross the coast between Chennai in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. A red alert has been issued for Nellore, Kadapa and Chittoor districts in Andhra Pradesh due to the impact of the cyclone.
Low-lying areas in the three districts were inundated while rivulets, streams, tanks and reservoirs were overflowing. The massive downpour has brought life to a standstill in the rain-hit districts in Andhra Pradesh. Authorities have declared a holiday for all educational institutions in the affected districts.
According to the India Meteorological Department, the depression over the southwest Bay of Bengal crossed the coast between 3 AM and 4 AM, triggering heavy rains in southern parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Also read | Ex-Miss Kerala Car Crash Death: Crime Branch Takes Over Case After Hotel Owner's Arrest
Andhra Pradesh's Disaster Management Commissioner K Kannababu said that widespread rains are likely in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. Few places are also likely to record heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Winds at a speed of 45-65 kms/hour are likely along the coast. The officials have advised fishermen to not venture into the sea due to rough to very rough seas conditions likely to prevail.
Meanwhile, all the Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam vehicles were stopped at the foothills of Tirumala.
Teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have reached Chittoor and Nellore districts for rescue and relief operations. The disaster management commissioner Kannababu said people in low-lying areas had been asked to evacuate and the SDRF teams have been helping to evacuate people.
Meanwhile, the state government has appointed three special officers to monitor rescue and relief operations in Nellore, Chittoor and Kadapa districts.
On the direction of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, these officials reached the respective districts on Thursday night. The officials will personally supervise relief operations in the wake of floods triggered by heavy rains. They will submit reports to the Chief Minister on the situation.
Also read | Tamil Nadu CM Stalin Writes To PM Modi Requesting To Convert 8 State Highways To National Highways
The government has deputed education secretary B. Rajasekhar to Nellore district, marketing commissioner Pradyumna to Chittoor district and another senior official Shashi Bhushan Kumar to Kadapa district.
Meanwhile, several areas of the temple town of Tirupati remained flooded on Friday as one of a building got washed away due to torrential rains in the city. Heavy rains since Thursday wreaked havoc in the town.
Residents in inundated areas were still waiting for water to recede. Schools and community halls, which were turned into relief camps, were also inundated.