TNN | Dec 12, 2013, 02.58 AM IST
VISAKHAPATNAM: In a major respite for people in coastal Andhra, severe cyclonic storm Madi, which has been petering out, gradually turned into a deep depression on Wednesday. It is expected to weaken further into a depression by Thursday before weakening to a low pressure.
However, Madi did create tension among fisherfolk in the Konapapeta and Ponnada areas of Kottapalli and Uppada mandals of East Godavari due to heavy waves battering the coast since Monday night. Coast erosion under the onslaught of the cyclone also forced the officials to stall vehicular traffic in the area. Around 25 thatched houses were washed away in sea waters at Konapapeta as the sea surged nearly 25 meters forward. Luckily, fishermen managed to save their boats.
According to the India Meteorology Department (IMD), Madi, which is a deep depression laying centred over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, moved south-southwestward at a speed of about 10 kmph on Wednesday and was currently positioned about 400 km southeast of Machilipatnam, 340 km east-northeast of Chennai and 570 km north-northeast of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka. It would move southwestwards and weaken into a depression in the next 12 hours, the IMD has predicted.
According to Met officials, under the influence of the system, rainfall would occur at isolated places over coastal Andhra in the next 12 hours. The impact would be mostly felt in south coastal AP. Fishermen along and off the south Andhra Pradesh coasts have been advised not to venture into the sea during the next 24 hours.