Cyclone Gulab Effect on North Coastal Andhra Districts

Cyclone Gulab Effect on North Coastal Andhra Districts  |Cyclone Gulab crossed the coast between Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Gopalpur in Odisha, after making landfall here. The landfall process of Cyclone Gulab started on Sunday evening and continued for about three hours, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. 

During the landfall, the wind speed of the cyclone was about 90 kmph. Tidal waves of about 0.5 m height lashed the low-lying areas of Srikakulam, Sompeta, Vizianagaram, Ganjam districts during the time of landfall,” the IMD said in its bulletin.

District Collectors have been alerted by the Disaster Management Department and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is keeping stock of the situation from time to time.

Over the next three days, the sea condition will be rough to very rough and fishermen in Odisha, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh have been asked to not venture into the seas. North Andhra coastal districts have received heavy rainfall due to the Cyclone Gulab effect.

Meanwhile, AP Chief Secretary Aditya Nath Das conducted a review with the district Collectors on Cyclone Gulab situation at Visakhapatnam. AP State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner K Kanna Babu reviewed the situation and directed district officials to be on high alert. NDRF and SDRF teams have been positioned in the three north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, and Visakhapatnam for rescue and relief operations.  Special officers have been appointed in 15 mandals in the Visakhapatnam district as per the directions of the Chief Minister.

Srikakulam

With strong winds blowing along the coast of Srikakulam district authorities advised people to be vigilant and stay indoors. Many trees in the Naupada area were uprooted. The power supply was cut off across the Srikakulam district due to the cyclone. Vehicles coming towards Visakhapatnam-Vizianagaram-Srikakulam were also stalled. A boat capsized on Akkunapally beach. Two lives were lost in the incident while four fishermen escaped unharmed. State Fisheries Minister S Appala Raju was coordinating with officials over the safety of the fishermen.

Meanwhile, six fishermen from Palasa, who were returning to their native village by sea were caught in the storm. He has called people from his village over the phone and informed them that five of his fellow fishermen were lost in the sea. Subsequently, four of them returned, and two were still missing.  The Fisheries Minister contacted the Navy authorities to carry out a rescue operation and trace the missing fishermen. As per reports 61 relief camps have been opened for the people of the 13 mandals.

Vizianagaram

Vizianagaram district received heavy rain ranging up to 6 cm under the influence of the cyclone. Deputy Chief Minister (Revenue) Dharmana Krishna Das who is the district has toured several villages to take stock of the situation and supervise relief works.

South Central Railway informed in a release that eight trains on the Vijayawada-Howrah route were diverted via Kharagpur, Jharsuguda, Bilaspur and Balharshah.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin on Monday morning, a deep depression lay centered over south Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh about 110 km south-southeast of Jagdalpur (Chhattisgarh) and 140 km west-northwest of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It is likely to move nearly westwards and weaken further into a depression during the next 12 hours.

The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy and extremely heavy falls at isolated places, likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh, isolated regions of Rayalaseema and Telangana.

Also Read: Cyclone Gulab To Bring Heavy Rains To Hyderabad

The Deep Depression over south Odisha and adjoining north Andhra Pradesh, lay centered at 0530 hrs IST of 27th September, likely to move nearly westwards and weaken further into a Depression during next 12 hours. pic.twitter.com/Pxht5L6wuj

— India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) September 27, 2021