Depression likely, heavy rain forecast for coastal A.P.

Official machinery gearing up to meet any eventuality

The low pressure area over the central Bay of Bengal persists and is very likely to concentrate into a depression during the next 24 hours and further intensify and move northwestwards reaching North Andhra Pradesh and adjoining South Odisha coast by morning of October 19 (Thursday), according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Heavy rain is likely to occur at isolated places in coastal A.P. on Thursday while light to moderate rain or thundershowers are likely at many places in coastal AP and at isolated places in Rayalaseema from Tuesday to Thursday.

The southwest monsoon has been normal over coastal A.P. and active over Rayalaseema during the last 24 hours. Rain occurred at many places in Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra, with heavy and very heavy rainfall at isolated places in the two regions.

The chief amounts of rainfall (recorded in cm) during the last 24 hours (ending 8.30 a.m. on Monday) are as follows:

Teams to be formed

Karamchedu (Prakasam) 7, Vinjamur (Nellore) 7, Kaikalur (Krishna) 6, Vizianagaram 6, Tuni (East Godavari) 3, Elamanchili (Visakhapatnam) 3, Allagadda (Kurnool) 19, Kodur (Kadapa) 5 and Satyavedu (Chittoor) 3.

Meanwhile, in Srikakulam, the district administration has alerted all the mandal-level officers to form local teams immediately to face any eventuality with the IMD forecasting a depression in the next couple of days, which is likely to have a serious impact on North Coastal Andhra and South Odisha. Srikakulam, with 192 km coast line, could be affected seriously if depression turns into a cyclone, according to officials. Collector K. Dhanunjaya Reddy held an emergency meeting with senior officials in the evening and discussed the possible impact.

In Kakinada, East Godavari Collector Kartikeya Misra said that entry of boats into the Bay of Bengal was restricted till October 21 and asked the officials of the fisheries department to take necessary steps for the safe return of the fishing boats in the sea. “All leaves have been cancelled and the officials working in low-lying areas have been asked to report to their duties immediately. Arrangements should be in place for relief and rehabilitation and reserves of groceries should be maintained,” he said. In Chittoor, the district administration has put on alert all the revenue, irrigation and police personnel at the village and mandal levels in view of the heavy rain forecast in the Chittoor division from Monday night.