Two Godavari districts (East and West) as well as Visakhapatnam district are bracing to face cyclone Lehar predicted to cross the coast on Thursday afternoon or night in the vicinity of Kakinada. The three districts are said to be in the danger zone as Lehar approaches the coast with great fury.
After Phailin and Helen, it will be the third cyclone this season to hit Andhra Pradesh coast and it spells great danger to the standing paddy, coconut and other crops already ravaged by cyclone Helen last week. There has been heavy damage to paddy and coconut crop in the two Godavari districts and it is apprehended by farmers that Lehar may wreak greater havoc.
Ten teams from the National Disaster Relief Authority have arrived in East Godavari in view of the cyclone threat and in response to the district administration's request. Neetu Prasad, District Collector of East Godavari, visited the low-lying areas on the coast and requested people to move to safer places in view of the cyclone. Relief camps have been set up for them. The district administration has also declared a holiday for Government offices and schools on Thursday. Only those Government staff engaged in the relief work will report for duty.
Ports affected
The two ports here — the anchorage port as well as the deep water port — are affected by the cyclone threat. Rice is exported from the old port of Kakinada and frequent cyclones have hit the operations badly. The work at the deepwater port is also partly affected.