AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh government has put its machinery on alert ahead of Cyclone Arnab and released Rs 27 crore to 20 affected districts for relief operations. Districts expected to bear the brunt of the storm received additional funds.
Seven districts, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, East Godavari, Kakinada and Anakapalle, were allocated Rs 2 crore each. Thirteen districts, Prakasam, Markapuram, Guntur, NTR, Eluru, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Polavaram, Parvathipuram Manyam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam, Nellore and Tirupati, were allocated Rs 1 crore each.
Chief Secretary Sai Prasad directed officials to spend the money on relief centres, drinking water, food, milk, medical camps and sanitation, as well as emergency repairs to roads and irrigation works. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has already reviewed the cyclone situation.
Irrigation Minister Nimmala Rama Naidu held a teleconference with Water Resources Department officials and told them to stay alert. With heavy rain likely, he instructed them to monitor water levels in projects continuously and to keep field-level officers available.
Storm forecast
The effects of Arnab are already visible in Uttarandhra and coastal Andhra, with strong winds blowing along the coast. Officials expect the storm, centred over the west-central Bay of Bengal, to strengthen further. Its impact on coastal Andhra is likely to peak from tomorrow, and warnings say heavy to extremely heavy rain is possible in several areas tomorrow and the day after.
Given the likelihood of intensification, a red alert has been issued for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Arnab is moving at about 15 km per hour and could develop into a severe cyclonic storm, officials said.
Konaseema and several other parts of coastal Andhra are expected to feel the strongest effects. The storm is forecast to cross the coast between Bapatla and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. Officials in coastal districts and disaster management personnel are on full alert. The government has asked residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and to follow official instructions, and has urged people in coastal areas to take extra care.
Kakinada under watch
Authorities are monitoring Kakinada district closely. Educational institutions there will remain closed tomorrow and the day after. The district collector said about 80,000 people in coastal areas have been alerted. Alerts have been declared in six coastal mandals and five other mandals, and 101 relief centres have been prepared to move people to safety if needed.