TNN | Nov 22, 2013, 02.49 AM IST
Vijayawada: Changing its direction fast, severe cyclonic storm Helen is now veering towards Krishna district and it is expected to cross the coast near Machilipatnam sometime around Friday afternoon. The second highest danger warning signal No. 10 has been hoisted at Machilipatnam and Nizampatnam and No. 9 signal at Kakinada port. Incidentally, signal No. 11 stands for "devastation and no communication links".
The entire coast right from Kakinada in East Godavari to Tada in Nellore district appeared in danger with rough sea and ferocious waves hitting the land. The retaining wall at Uppada beach near Kakinada coast was washed away by waves affecting traffic to the beach. At many places, waves as high as two metres were noticed.
Seawater gushed into low-lying areas on the coast in Nellore, leaving fishermen terrified. All coastal mandals in Krishna district were put on high alert following the change of direction of the cyclone. Earlier, cyclone Helen was expected to make the landfall between Ongole and Kavali in Nellore district.
However, the state government asked the district administrations of Guntur, Prakasam, and Nellore too to be prepared to tackle any emergency. Revenue minister N Raghuveera Reddy held a video conference from Hyderabad and reviewed the preparations with the district collectors and special officers from south coastal districts. State government rushed senior IAS officers to the cyclone-prone districts as special officers to closely monitor the situation and guide the district collectors.
Raghuveera Reddy asked all senior officials to take measures to reduce human loss. He directed that collectors evacuate people from low-lying areas on the coast even by force if required. With the latest reports suggesting that the cyclone could turn into severe cyclonic storm, the government apprehends that it could cause huge damage to the farming community in the coastal region.
The district collectors were also asked to advise farmers to take steps to protect their produce. Meanwhile, 12 mandals in Krishna district, 11 in Guntur and 9 in Prakasam district were identified as the most vulnerable areas and people would be shifted to relief centres depending on the need.
According to Krishna district collector Raghunandan Rao, 43 villages along the coast have been identified as highly sensitive and official teams have been sent there to evacuate people to relief centres.
Similarly, the district administrations identified 60 villages in Guntur, 28 in Prakasam and 69 in Nellore as cyclone-prone and steps were being taken to shift the villagers to relief centres. Special control rooms have been set up in all the districts to assist the cyclone victims.
National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Kothapatnam and Kavali mandals. Meanwhile, about 12 fishermen were stranded in rough waters in the sea while returning home upon learning about the cyclone threat.
According to sources, five fishermen, who went to sea from Krishna district, were missing after their boat overturned. The family members approached Machilipatnam police who in turn requested the marine police and coast guard to track them. An abandoned boat was found near Machilipatnam and search was on for the missing fishermen.
In a similar incident, seven fishermen were found struggling in deep sea after the boat developed technical snag near Suryaraopet village of Kakinada rural mandal. The fishermen alerted their families over phone and sought assistance from the marine police. Sources said the marine police too could not reach the spot due to the turbulent sea. Families fear life threat to their breadwinners as the sea looked ferocious on the coast and very rough a few km away from the coast.
The East Godavari district administration sought the assistance of coast guard from Visakhapatnam to rescue the fishermen.