Hyderabad, November 07: Nellore is bracing for the worst. The severe cyclonic storm, Jal, that lay centred 500 km southeast of Chennai and 600 km south-east of Nellore, is expected to cross the coast between Puducherry and Nellore on Sunday night.
Its effect is also likely to be felt in Chittoor and Prakasam districts. In Nellore, though the weather remained sunny throughout the day, everyone knew it was deceptive as the Bay of Bengal gave away the signs with the sea remaining very rough. The district administration is on its toes, having evacuated about 1,000 people to safer places. According to district collector K Ramgopal, Gudur division of the district is likely to be affected most.
After crossing the coast, the severe cyclonic storm tomorrow night will lose its intensity at about 5.30 a.m. on November 8 and becomes a severe cyclone.
By 5.30 p.m. it will become a deep depression.
It will become a depression at 5.30 a.m. on Nov 9 and depression by 5.30 p.m. the same day.
IMD sources warn that when it remains a severe cyclonic storm, wind speeds will be up to 120 to 140 kmph, sometimes reaching up to 140 kmph.
When it turns into a cyclonic storm, the speed will come down to 70 to 80 kmph, gusting up to 90 kmph. When it is in the form of a depression, the sped of winds will be 40 to 50 kmph, gusting up to 60 kmph.
Under its influence, rain or thundershowers will occur at most places over north coastal Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours. The sea will be very rough. Storm surge of one two metres above the astronomical tide may inundate low-lying areas of Nellore and Prakasam districts, the IMD sources said.
The state government has deployed senior officials from various departments to coordinate relief operations.
Chief minister K Rosaiah asked the Army and the police to get ready and swing into action at short notice.
Acting on the advice of the meteorological department, the government declared Chittoor and Nellore as districts to be affected the most. “There is a severe threat to people residing in low-lying areas. We request them to move to safer places and cooperate with the government,’’ revenue minister D Prasada Rao said after a review of the situation by the chief minister.
Apart from asking the in-charge ministers to stay in the district headquarters and monitor the relief and rescue operations, the chief minister wanted people’s representatives to play an active role in evacuating people from affected areas immediately. Holidays were declared to all educational institutions in these districts. Home minister P Sabita Indra Reddy assured people that the police would take the responsibility of protecting their assets and urged them to move to safer places.
–Agencies