Cyclone Helen may hit coast on Thursday near Kavali

Prakasam district is bracing itself to face the cyclonic storm, Helen, which is set to cross the coast between Chennai and Ongole on Thursday night.

The storm is brewing in the Bay of Bengal even as a three-member central team is touring on Wednesday areas in the district affected by last month's torrential rains on Wednesday.

According to the Met Department, the cyclone is expected to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and cross the coast near Kavali in neighbouring Nellore district on Thursday night.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected at a few places in Guntur, Krishna, Nellore and Prakasam districts with strong winds ranging between 70-80 kmph, gusting to 100 kmph, from November 21 evening.

Revenue officials have asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea, which was expected to be rough.

Tehsildars and Special officers in the 11 coastal mandals were placed on alert and asked to store essential commodities, safe drinking water and medicines in the villages in their jurisdiction in advance.