Andhra coast braces for cyclone 'Nilam'

Authorities in Andhra Pradesh were taking all precautionary measures to tackle the situation arising out of cyclone 'Nilam', which is likely to cross the coast between Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu and Nellore in south coastal Andhra Wednesday.

Revenue Minister Raghuveera Reddy told reporters that control rooms were set up in the state secretariat in Hyderabad and in the south coastal districts to provide information about the cyclone.
The cyclonic storm was centred over the Bay of Bengal and located about 450 km south-southeast of Chennai Tuesday evening.
The met office said the system would move north-northwestwards and cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Cuddalore and Nellore near Chennai by Wednesday evening.
Under the influence of Nilam, rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall would occur over coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry during next 12 hours.
Squally winds with speeds reaching 45-55 kmph, gusting to 65 kmph, would prevail along and off north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts.
Fishermen along the coasts were advised not to venture into the sea.
The met offices said storm surges of about 1 to 1.5 metres were likely to inundate the low lying areas of Chennai, Kanchipuram and Tiruvallur of Tamil Nadu and Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
Damage to thatched huts, uprooting of small trees and and minor damage to power and communication lines were also likely at the time of landfall.
A control room in the state secretariat in Hyderabad has been opened with the contact numbers 040-23456005 and 040-23451043. Control rooms were also opened in Nellore, Guntur and Ongole in south coastal Andhra.
Third warning signals were hoisted at Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam and Vadarevu ports along south coastal Andhra
"The senior officials are reviewing the situation every three to four hours and giving necessary instructions to the district collectors," Raghuveera Reddy said.