VIJAYAWADA: With cyclone Phethai slated to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, Krishna district administration has geared up to meet any eventuality and is constantly monitoring the situation. Control rooms have been set up and fishermen are directed not to venture out into the sea till December 19.
The depression, which lay 1,100 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam on Friday evening is likely to convert into a cyclonic storm in 12 hours and severe cyclonic storm in 36 hours. On the day, dry weather condition prevailed across the district and the Met department has forecast heavy rainfall in isolated places in the next 24 hours.
District Collector B Lakshmikantham on Friday directed the revenue officials to open control rooms and relief camps in 10 vulnerable mandals; fire officials were asked to stay prepared with necessary equipment. Two NDRF, one SDRF and five fire department teams are kept on standby; 100 expert swimmers and 20 boats have also been deployed.
Officials have identified 181 villages where maximum impact of rainfall is likely and deployed staff to supervise proactive measures being taken up and rescue operations. The government officers will not be granted leave for the next few days. Fishermen have been advised to suspend operations and hutment dwellers in coastal areas are asked to move to safer locations. Health teams and ambulances are deployed in core areas and officials concerned are asked to keep sufficient stocks of rations that can last up to 30 days. The APSPDCL has urged public to remain alert and said its staff and contract workers were kept on standby along with necessary equipment for power restoration works. The collector has also asked the district officials to launch emergency numbers.