The Krishna district administration has been put on high alert to face the ‘Nilam’ cyclone, according to District Revenue Officer L. Vijayachand.
Addressing a press conference at Machilipatnam on Wednesday, the DRO said that according to meteorological reports there can be heavy rainfall in the district in the next 24 hours starting from the time the cyclone crossed the coast at Mahabalipuram Wednesday evening.
He said that the cyclone warning No. six had been displayed at Machilipatnam. A control room was established at the Bandar RDO office. The fishermen had been warned against going into the sea for fishing.
Officials were deputed to all the mandals on the coast and instructions were being given to them continuously through SMSs.
He said that arrangements were made to evacuate people living in the low-lying areas due to inundation in case of heavy rainfall under the influence of ‘Nilam’.
The district administration has kept the officials of revenue and other departments on high alert due to the threat of cyclone ‘Nilam’.
Most parts of the district have already been receiving moderate rain but so far there was no report of any death or injury or serious property damage.
However, as the cyclone posed a grave threat to north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh, the heads of all departments concerned and staff were asked to be in a state of alert, Collector S. Suresh Kumar told mediapersons here on Wednesday.
Cyclone shelters in five coastal mandals -- Bapatla, Karlapalem, Nizampatnam, P.V. Palem and Repalle -- were kept ready and fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea.
Fishermen who went in four boats for a catch on Tuesday returned safely in the evening. Mr. Suresh Kumar said control rooms were opened at the Collectorate (0863-2234301 / 2234070 and 1077) and Tenali RDO office for monitoring the rapidly changing situation and attending to any emergency.
Heavy rain is forecast for the next 48 hours, he said and added that moderate rain would be good for the standing crops.
