VIJAYAWADA/VISAKHAPATNAM: Rain and gale storms may put a dampener on this year’s Deepavali celebrations even as the threat of a cyclone hitting the coastal districts of the state looms large.
As a part of its efforts to boost tourism in the state, the district administration has planned Narakasura Vadha at Pavitra Sangamam on the banks of Krishna along with a number of cultural programmes.
Owners of shops selling crackers at PWD Grounds and Punnami Ghat say they are worried sales may not take off due to the weather.
The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted that the low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a depression in the next 48 hours. Subsequently, it is likely to move northwestwards to south Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh coast by October 19. Under the influence of cyclonic circulation, heavy rainfall occurred at isolated places over Rayalaseema. Till 8 am on Sunday, 7 cm rain was received at Nandikotkur in Kurnool district and Kundurpi in Anantapur district; 6 cm at Settur in Anantapur district; 5 cm at Lepakshi in Anantapur district and Chittoor town.
“The upper air cyclonic circulation over Rayalaseema and neighbourhood now lies over Telangana and extends 0.9 km above mean sea level. Under its influence, thunderstorms accompanied with gusty winds are likely to occur at isolated places in all the districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 48 hours,” said an IMD official.
Farmers in the north coast, Godavari and Krishna delta say they fear heavy downpour may play havoc with their crops. “We have already received too much rain. Now we hear there may be more rains. Our crops may get damaged,” a ryot told TNIE.
