Andhra Pradesh prepares for possible cyclone landfall on October 28

Andhra Pradesh authorities issued an alert after a Bay of Bengal depression was forecast to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 27. Officials prepared response teams, urged fishermen to stay ashore and advised residents to follow official warnings

Amaravati: A depression over the Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by October 27, prompting authorities to urge people in Andhra Pradesh to remain on high alert, the Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA) said on Sunday.

APSDMA Managing Director Prakhar Jain cautioned people against lowering their guard as the weather system continued to develop over the Bay of Bengal.

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“The depression over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify further in the coming days. People should remain extremely alert,” Jain said in an official release.

According to Jain, the depression was moving southeastwards at 5 kmph and was centred over the east-central and adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal at 5.30 am on Sunday. It was located about 440 km north-northwest of Sri Vijaya Puram in the Andaman Islands, 880 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 980 km east-southeast of Kakinada, 1,080 km east of Machilipatnam and 1,150 km east of Bapatla.

The Meteorological Department said the depression was likely to move nearly southwards and intensify into a deep depression on Sunday before gradually turning west-northwestwards.

The system was expected to develop into a cyclonic storm over the east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning of October 26, and further intensify into a severe cyclonic storm over the west-central Bay of Bengal around the morning of October 27, it said.

The weather system was then likely to move northwestwards and intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm, reaching the west-central Bay of Bengal near the Andhra Pradesh coast around the morning of October 28.

It was forecast to cross the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 28, with maximum sustained wind speeds of up to 125 kmph and gusts of up to 140 kmph, the Meteorological Department said.

Meanwhile, Home Minister V Anitha directed officials to remain on high alert and take precautionary measures in advance to prevent loss of life and property in view of the cyclone warning.

She asked district collectors, superintendents of police and field-level officials to remain vigilant, remove dangerous hoardings and make arrangements to shift people in coastal areas to safer locations, if necessary.

Anitha also directed officials to keep National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams ready in cyclone-prone areas to ensure prompt rescue and relief operations. She instructed them to continuously monitor the situation through district control rooms and take immediate action based on weather conditions.

Advising fishermen not to venture into the sea, she directed officials to prohibit tourists from entering beaches and cautioned the public against taking selfies or engaging in other risky activities in areas vulnerable to high waves.

The Home Minister also urged farmers and the public to take necessary precautions, refrain from believing or circulating rumours on social media, and regularly follow official warnings issued by the APSDMA and the Real Time Governance Society (RTGS).