High Alert in AP, Cyclone Phethai Intensifies

 High alert  was sounded in Andhra Pradesh as the  Cyclone Phethai is likely to intensify as a 'severe cyclonic storm' and the coastal Andhra districts will receive heavy rains in the next 24 hours.   The alerted state government deployed NDRF and State Disaster Response Force in cyclone affected  five districts.

The Meteorological Department officials said that the cyclonic storm is  likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kakinada on Monday  afternoon.

The IMD predicted the storm will make a landfall between Ongole and Kakinada on Monday and the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu are expected to receive downpour for the next two days. State government already declared holidays for schools in the five coastal districts of Andhra and warned the fishermen not to venture into fishing till the high alert is lifted.