With Cyclone Lehar changing its course slightly, the Andhra Pradesh Government has fine-tuned relief and rescue strategy. The cyclone, forecast to be very violent, is now expected to cross the coast at Machilipatnam in Krishna district.
The weathermen had earlier projected that the cyclone might cross the coast at Kakinada. They caution heavy rains with wind speeds of up to 150-160 kilometers an hour. As many as 58 boats, including 44 from Visakhapatnam, are yet to return from the troubled sea.
“Any wind speed above 120 kmph would cause extreme damages to dwellings. We have begun shifting of people to safer places. We are in touch with the fishermen in the boats,” C Parthasarathi, Commissioner of Disaster Management Department, told reporters here on Wednesday.
After analysing the likely path of the cyclone, the Disaster Management Department officials have said that about six districts would take the maximum impact. These districts are Krishna, Guntur, East and West Godavari districts, Visakhapatnam and Prakasam districts.
The National Disaster Response Force has allotted 30 teams to Andhra Pradesh to tackle the situation after the cyclone hit the coast.
Train services
In view of the cyclonic weather conditions prevailing in the coastal region of Andhra Pradesh due to the impending very severe cyclonic storm ‘Lehar’, there is a likelihood of change in the pattern of train services in this region in the next two days, the South Central Railways said.
The train services scheduled to be run on the Renigunta - Gudur - Vijayawada–Samalkot–Visakhapatnam Section and the Machilipatnam – Gudivada – Bhimavaram – Narasapur Sections, which are situated along the coast line of Andhra Pradesh, are likely to be affected on November 28 and 29.
The local passenger and express trains running through this area are likely to be fully or partially cancelled or regulated as per the demands of the situation.
The long distance express trains running between the southern part of the country and the northern and eastern parts through these routes, especially via Vijayawada are likely to be regulated or diverted to suitable alternate routes such as Renigunta/Guntakal; via Guntur; and via Vijayawada/Kazipet/ Balharshah.