Chennai: The Meteorological (MeT) department warned that the cyclone Pethai will intensify and move towards Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours.
“The deep depression in the south-eastern area of the Bay of Bengal has moved to the northern side with a speed of 17 Kilometres an hour and has now intensified and developed into a cyclonic storm named ‘Pethai’. It is very likely to move to the northeastern side and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Kakinada during 17 December,” the statement from the meteorological department said.
Coastal Andhra Pradesh and north Tamilnadu are also likely to experience rainfall in the next 24 hours with the system making landfall between Ongole and Kakinada in the neighbouring State on Monday. East Godavari District Collector Kartikeya Misra declared a two-day holiday for all schools in eight coastal mandals in view of the cyclone threat.
The Met department predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in various districts of Andhra Pradesh.
In view of the cyclone, the government machinery in Adhra Pradesh is also on high alert. The NDRF and State Disaster Response Force have been positioned in five districts as the deep depression in the Bay of Bengal is set to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm and cross the coast between Ongole and Kakinada on Monday.
Two teams of SDRF (80 members) and two of NDRF (60 members) have been deployed in these districts with all necessary equipment for evacuation and rescue operations. Sixteen teams of Andhra Pradesh Disaster Response and Fire Services have been kept on reserve at Rajamahendravaram, while another nine (of five members each) have been positioned in West Godavari district for road clearance.