VIJAYAWADA:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to implement vital preventive measures, drawing upon crucial lessons from past cyclonic events, as Cyclone Montha bears down on the state’s coastline. During a comprehensive review conducted via the RTGS Command Centre, the Chief Minister underscored the absolute necessity of heightened vigilance across all districts susceptible to the cyclone’s impact.
The review meeting saw the participation of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, Ministers Nara Lokesh, V. Anitha, P. Narayana, Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand, and high-ranking officials from various government departments. During the meeting, officials updated the Chief Minister, confirming that the cyclone is progressively nearing land and has already initiated significant impacts on coastal regions.
Reports indicated that heavy rainfall, coupled with fierce winds, had already struck Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Visakhapatnam, and several other areas.
The Chief Minister issued specific instructions for the immediate deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams to Kakinada and its vicinity, anticipating the cyclone’s landfall there. Furthermore, he tasked authorities with accurately forecasting wind and rainfall intensity to enable proactive and effective precautionary measures.
Officials provided a crucial update, stating that heavy downpours are anticipated to impact Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, and Nellore districts. In response, the Chief Secretary confirmed that all District Collectors within the potentially affected zones have been placed on maximum alert, ensuring streamlined disaster management and paramount public safety.
IMPORTANT UPDATE: A red alert has been issued for 16 districts as Cyclone Montha is expected to make landfall along the Andhra Coast tonight.