Heavy rains and gale continued to lash Nellore and other districts of Andhra Pradesh close to Tamil Nadu today due to the cyclonic storm ‘Nilam.’
The arrival of the cyclone led to rainfall at most places. Heavy to very heavy rainfall would also occur over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema during the next 48 hours, according to the Met department.
There were no reports of death or damage to property till evening, the State Commissioner for Disaster Management said.
However, media reports showed damaged huts and uprooted trees at many places.
Larger-than-usual tidal waves is likely to inundate the low-lying areas of Nellore district, the sources added.
The Government has set up control rooms at the Secretariat here and at the district and division level.
Senior IAS cadres have been posted in 13 coastal mandals as special officers and teams have been kept ready for evacuation in low-lying areas, the Commissioner said.
Close watch
The disaster management commissioner has asked the district collectors to keep a close watch on the situation and take appropriate precautionary and preventive measures. Meanwhile, rainfall has been reported from Nellore, neighbouring Chennai and other districts.
An official of Nellore district said revenue officials have been told to set up cyclone shelters. According to official sources, the cyclonic storm ‘Nilam’ lay centred over south west Bay of Bengal south east of Chennai. It would move north westward and cross north Tamil Nadu — south coastal Andhra Pradesh between Nagapattinam and Nellore by tomorrow afternoon.