Two dead in rain-related incidents ahead of cyclonic storm

Hyderabad/Vijayawada: Two persons were killed in separate rain-related incidents as heavy rains lashed coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh under the influence of severe cyclonic storm ‘Helen’ over west-central Bay of Bengal.
In view of the cyclone 8,000 people have been evacuated to safer places. 3,000 people have been evacuated to safer places in West Godavari district and are being provided essential items like food and medicines.
According to officials, two persons died in Krishna district when trees fell on them.
Efforts are underway to remove the large number of trees that fell on the roads after being uprooted by gale in the district, they said.
Heavy rains and gutsy winds were reported from other coastal districts like Guntur, East Godavari among others.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviewed the situation arising out of cyclonic storm with Chief Secretary and the Collectors of coastal districts on Friday  morning, they said.
The vulnerable districts have been put on the high alert and the Chief Minister has directed the officials to be prepared to face any eventuality.
Reddy has also directed the administration to co-ordinate with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), police, fire and emergency personnel of medical, agriculture among others.
He has also asked the officials to take the help of Army, Navy and Air Force, if necessary, the sources said.
The severe cyclonic storm Helen over west central Bay of Bengal moved slightly westwards and lay centred at 1130 hrs IST on Friday about 15 kms east of Machilipatnam in coastal Andhra and it would cross the Andhra coast within a few hours, an official bulletin said.
Rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall (25cm or more) would occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari districts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 36 hrs, the bulletin said.
Gale winds speed reaching 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph would prevail over Prakasham, Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari and Vishakhapatnam districts during next 12 hours.
Squally winds speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph would prevail along and off remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh coasts during the same period.
Storm surge of about 1-1.5 metre height above astronomical tide would inundate the low lying areas of West and East Godavari Krishna, Guntur and adjoining areas of Prakasham districts of Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.
Even after landfall, the system is likely to maintain the intensity of cyclonic storm for six hours and gradually weaken into a deep depression in subsequent six hours, while moving westwards across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Under its influence rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy falls at isolated places would occur over Telangana during next 48 hours, the bulletin added. (PTI)