Cyclone Phethai is likely to move north-northwestwards and cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada this afternoon. Indian Meteorological Department said it is likely to weaken slightly before landfall and cross the coast with the wind speed of 70- 90 kilometres per hour. Meanwhile, heavy and moderate rainfall has been recorded in several areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
Teams of National and State Disaster Response Forces have been deployed mainly in the central Coastal Andhra Pradesh districts to meet any eventuality. Cyclone shelters have been opened in some coastal districts and transportation facility has been kept ready to evacuate people, if necessary.
Indian meteorological department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over 11 south coastal and western districts of Odisha due to the effect of cyclonic storm Phethai in south-east Bay of Bengal. The storm will hit Andhra coast this afternoon. The wind speed may reach 70 to 90 kmph during hitting land.
Gradually it will be weakened in the next 24 hours. Currently, several places in East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts are receiving heavy rainfall. In East Godavari, Injaram and Uppalaguptam received 11.5 cms rainfall each.