The Andhra Pradesh government has put seven coastal districts of Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam on high alert in the wake of the predictions over cyclonic storm Phethai.
The Indian Meteorology Department has predicted that it would hit the coasts of Andhra Pradesh on Monday afternoon, bringing heavy rains to the state and parts of Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand.
Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) were already deployed in the districts likely to be impacted by the cyclone.
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Woman killed in Godavari district due to squally winds
A woman died due to squally winds in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The woman was identified as Rellivalasala Veeramma (68) of Pallepalem.
Mercury dips in Jharkhand due to cyclone Phethai
Jharkhand witnessed cold weather on Monday due to incessant rains in the state, a weather official told IANS.
“Jharkhand is receiving moderate to heavy rainfall due to a cyclone which will hit the Andhra Pradesh coast on Monday afternoon,” RS Sharma, Ranchi meteorological scientist told the news agency.
One person dies due to landslide in Vijayawada
A person identified as Durga Rao (40), a resident of Christhurajanpuram died due to a landslide early on Monday, the police said.
A boulder from the hilltop rolled over his tiled house and hit him in the head while sleeping by piercing through the rooftop.District collector announced an ex-gratia of Rs 50000 to the victim’s family.
Normal life hit in coastal districts of Andhra
Cyclone ‘Phethai’ made landfall in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh Monday afternoon bringing moderate to heavy rains even as normal life remained hit in the coastal districts of the state.
The Real-Time Governance Centre at the state Secretariat here announced that ‘Phethai’ weakened into a cyclone as it made landfall near Katrenikona around 12.25 pm with a wind speed of 80 kmph.
Educational institutions in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh closed
Educational institutions in the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh have been closed today as a precautionary measure.
Cyclone Phethai has made landfall
Weather agency Skymet has said that Cyclone Phethai has just now made its landfall between Narsapur and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.
#CyclonePhethai – Cyclone Phethai has just now made its landfall between Narsapur and Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. @htTweets @scroll_in
— SkymetWeather (@SkymetWeather) December 17, 2018
Kolkata likely to experience light to moderate rain: MeT department
Kolkata, which has had an overcast sky since Sunday with intermittent drizzles, is likely to experience light to moderate rain, MeT department said.
The system is likely to cause widespread rain in all districts of Gangetic West Bengal, with heavy rain in one or two places till Tuesday morning, it said.
Four districts in South Odisha have been experiencing rain since Sunday evening due to the cyclone, while Gangetic West Bengal is likely to experience heavy rain till Tuesday morning, the meteorological (Met) department said.
Over 50 trains cancelled in Andhra Pradesh
The South Central Railway has cancelled over 50 trains in coastal Andhra Pradesh in view of severe cyclonic storm Phethai, which is set to hit the coast near Kakinada on Monday afternoon. Many trains from Vijayawada to various destinations in coastal Andhra were suspended as a precautionary measure.
The Visakhapatnam-Guntur Simhadri Express, Guntur-Visakhapatnam Simhadri Express, Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada Ratnachalam Express, Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam Ratnachalam Express, Narsapur-Nidadavolu Link Express and Nidadavolu-Narsapu Link Express were among the trains cancelled. Passenger trains between Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry, Guntur and Bhimavaram were also cancelled.
Stranded fishermen located, yet to be rescued
East Godavari Superintendent of police Vishal Gunni told Hindustan Times that frantic efforts by officials for several hours helped to locate them at last “ they are all safe taking shelter in an oil and natural gas corporation (ONGC) rig near bhairavavanipalem in East Godavar district and they are to be rescued”, the SP said.
Delhi-Visakhapatnam flight diverted
Delhi-Visakhapatnam flight services were diverted as inclement weather became not conducive for landing of flights
Six fishermen from Kakinada caught in rough sea
Six fishermen from Kakinada — Vasupalli Danelu, Maripalli Satti Babu, Perla Kasulu, Kundedu Kasi, Vasupalli Yarraýya and Merugu Yesobulu — who went for fishing on Sunday have been caught in rough sea.
Several passenger trains cancelled
South central railways cancelled several passenger trains covering Visakhapatnam, Kakinada port, Rajahmundry, Narsapur, Machilipatnam, Bhimavaram, Nidadavole, Vijayawada and Guntur
Fish, prawn casualties due to drop in oxygen levels
Fish and prawn reported heavy casualties in Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari districts due to drop in oxygen levels in ponds because of a sudden drop in temperatures.
Heavy rains batter Andhra Pradesh
Heavy rains have been lashing East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts of Andhra Pradesh since Sunday night.
Phethai weakens: Cyclone warning centre official
An official of the cyclone warning centre in Visakhapatnam said the cyclonic storm Phethai had weakened slightly. “It’s located about 160 km southeast of Machilipatnam and 190 km south of Kakinada, and is likely to move in northerly direction and cross Kakinada by this afternoon,” he told ANI.
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