Officials in Prakasam and Nellore districts are fully geared to face any eventuality as cyclonic storm ‘Gaja’ advanced towards the coast on Tuesday.
With the dreaded cyclonic storm Laila that struck the Prakasam coast in 2010 still in memory, fishermen in the 11 coastal mandals in Prakasam district moved their boats and nets to safe places.
Those, who were in the deep sea, hurried back to the coast as the sea remained rough.
Though Gaja was originally predicted to make landfall between Sriharikota and Chennai, now it is likely to spare south coastal Andhra by making a landfall between Cuddalore and Pamban in Tamil Nadu after weakening into a cyclone on Thursday afternoon. However, heavy rains are likely to lash the coastal region in the two districts for 48 hours from Wednesday evening, affecting normal life.
Prakasam Collector V.Vinay Chand directed the special officers in the 10 coastal mandals to be on alert.
In Nellore, Collector R. Muthyalaraju directed in the incharge officials of 12 mandals and Revenue Division Officers in Nellore, Nayudupeta, Gudur and Kavali divisions to monitor the situation 24x7 and arrange for shifting of people to safe places as and when needed.
