VISAKHAPATNAM: North Coastal Andhra Pradesh (NCAP) districts_ Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam were put on high alert after India Metrological Department (IMD) predicted that a deep depression over the Bay of Bengal is very likely to intensify into cyclone storm by Saturday midnight. If the system turned cyclone, it will be nabbed cyclone Gulab proposed by Pakistan.
The IMD predicted that heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rains is very likely to over NACP on Sunday and Monday morning. Heavy to very heavy falls at few places very likely over East Godavari and West Godavari districts and Yanam of Puducherry (UT).
The Deep Depression over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal moved westwards with a speed of 17 kmph in the last six hours and lay centered over northwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal about 410 km east-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 480 km east-northeast of Kalingapatnam in Srikakulam district (Andhra Pradesh). It is likely to move nearly westwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh – south Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Gopalpur by Sunday evening.
Director of IMD-Amaravati, Stella S, said that under the influence of the system, moderate to heavy rain or thundershowers most likely to occur most places with heavy to very heavy rain with extremely heavy fall at isolated places over NACP and with heavy rainfall at isolated places over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh (SCAP) on Sunday. Moderate rain or thundershowers most likely to occur at most places with heavy rainfall at isolated places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh on Monday.
Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph very likely to prevail along and off Odisha-North Andhra Pradesh coast. It will gradually increase becoming gale wind speed reaching 75-85 kmph gusting to 95kmph from Sunday afternoon till midnight along and off NACP, she added.
Sea condition will be rough to very rough along and off NACP and high till Sunday evening. Tide waves of 0.5 m height above astronomical tide likely over Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts and low-lying areas may get inundated, she added.
Under its impact, a situation of a flash flood, waterlogging, and inundation in low-lying areas could arise and there is a possibility of some damage to informal and kutcha road and wall collapse of the vulnerable kutcha houses.
Damages to communication and power lines, huts, damages to paddy crops, banana, papaya, and orchards very likely. Riverine flooding and landslides are expected. The fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till September 27.
While Srikakulam district is likely to be more affected by the cyclonic storm, Srikakulam District Collector Shrikesh B Lathkar instructed the officials to take necessary steps to mitigate the property loss and to set up rehabilitation centers with essential commodities, including safe drinking water, milk, bread, biscuits, and few others. He also instructed the official to shift the vulnerable people to safer places such as shelters and few others. Two NDRF tams have been deployed in Srikakulam district for relief and restoration works in the district, he added.
Similarly, the district administrations in Vizag and Vizianagaram districts said that leaves of all the officials of emergency departments have been canceled and they have been asked to stay alert to mitigate the property damages and to shift the people to safer places.
Parts of North Andhra Pradesh witnessed moderate rainfall on Saturday. The district officials have been set up control rooms in the NACP.