The district administration has geared up to meet any eventuality in view of looming cyclone. The mandals in the coastline were kept on high alert on Wednesday.
Machilipatnam DRO V.V. Subba Reddy said that they were on high preparedness and have taken precautions to prevent loss of life and property. The officials in villages were asked to take necessary precautions to evict the people, if required, on war footing. The community leaders in villages were also being roped in. The officials have been instructed to ensure sanitation, adequate lighting and drinking water at cyclone shelters and other places where the evacuated people will be housed, he said.
The adequate food stocks, drinking water sachets, emergency lamps etc have been kept in readiness. Fishermen were warned against venturing into the sea and tourists and general public visiting beaches were advised to be cautious. The fishermen who ventured into the sea have returned safely. A report to Coast Guard was sent that all boats and fishermen have retuned coast, he said.
The deep depression formed over southeast Bay of Bengal on December 25, turned into a tropical cyclone and was named Thane on Tuesday. It is expected to cross the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in the State on December 30.
