-ANC evacuates stranded tourists from Havelock, Neil Islands

-The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been put on high alert along with the Coast Guard. Sixteen teams of Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services are on standby at Rajamahendravaram

Staff Reporters / Agencies

Cyclone Phethai will hit Andhra Pradesh coastal belt today. It is likely to cross between MachiliPatnam and Kakinada in the coming 24 hours.

India Meteorological Department said, under its impact, heavy to very heavy rain is likely to occur at all the Districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. Heavy rain is also likely to occur in the East Godavari, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam Districts.There has been rainfall at several places of Coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu held a teleconference with Collectors and Officials at his residence in Amaravathi. He asked them to take precautionary measures keeping in view of the experiences shared during Titli cyclone. They have been advised to take precautions to prevent loss of life and property.

Mr Naidu also said that the Revenue, Electricity, Panchayat Raj and other departments to work in coordination to restore normalcy in cyclone prone areas.

https://twitter.com/AndhraPradeshCM/status/1074385121732481024

 

All India Radio Vijayawada is giving cyclone warning information from its Regular and FM broadcasts from time to time.

The Met department has also warned of heavy rain in many districts of South Bengal tomorrow. Heavy rain is likely over one or two places in the districts of Howrah, East and West Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura, West Burdwan, Jhargram and Hooghly.

In Odisha, while the sky remained overcast in many parts of the state today, districts like Gajapati, Ganjam, Rayagada and Kalahandi are likely to be lashed by heavy rain under the impact of the cyclonic storm.

Meanwhile, Andaman and Nicobar Command has evacuated more than 950 stranded tourists and islanders from Havelock and Neil Islands over bad weather and rough seas in wake of Phethai in the Bay of Bengal.

Tourism Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Administration Yashpal Garg in a letter to the station managers of airlines has requested for waiving off rescheduling or cancellation charges of air tickets for tourists stranded in the Islands.