Andhra coast faces cyclone threat, alert sounded

HYDERABAD - Andhra Pradesh faces a cyclone threat as a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify and hit the coast, weather officials said Monday.

Authorities in coastal Andhra have sounded an alert and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

The weather office has forecast widespread rains over coastal Andhra with strong winds of 45 to 55 km per hour.

According to the bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a depression formed over the Bay of Bengal lay centered about 1,000 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. The system is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and move initially in a northwesterly direction towards the state’s coast.

Under the influence of this system, coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh are likely to experience widespread rainfall from May 19. Heavy to very heavy rains are likely at some places.

Following the warning by weather office, authorities in all nine coastal districts sounded an alert along the coast. Senior officials here reviewed the situation with district collectors and directed them to be prepared for any eventuality.

The forecast of heavy rains and cyclone has come at a time when the severe heat wave conditions continue across the state. The heat wave claimed 20 lives Monday, taking the total deaths to 65 since Friday.