Clear Hyderabadi Weekend, No more rains: Met dept

Hyderabad, After battling it out with untimely rains and terrible traffic on Thursday evening and Friday morning, citizens can sigh in relief, as the Meteorological centre, Hyderabad has assured the city of a clear weekend.

Speaking to Sakshipost over phone, G Sudhakar Rao, Scientist 'E', Director In Charge, said,  "Leher has now entered into low pressure area and that is why Hyderabad and other areas have been receiving rainfall. But there is nothing to worry as it is only minimal." He added that the rains will cease by evening and Hyderabad can look forward to a fairly clear weekend. 

From 8:30 am on Thursday till 8:30 am on Friday, Hyderabad received 5.2 millimeters of rainfall.

The IMD had earlier warned the state of very severe cyclonic storm with the wind speed gusting to 200 kmph.

The state government had sounded an alert as the intensity of the cyclone feared to be more than that of 1996 cyclone that killed hundreds of people and caused widespread destruction in Konaseema region of East Godavari district.

The authorities have evacuated more than 26,000 people from vulnerable areas in four districts, requisitioned four helicopters and six columns of the army for rescue and relief work.

With the IMD withdrawing the cyclone alert, the warning signals hoisted all ports in the state were also taken back.

Lehar was the third cyclone to threaten the Andhra coast in a month. Helen had crossed the coast at Machilipatnam last week, killing 11  people and damaging crops over four lakh hectares. Phailin, which hit Odisha-Andhra coast last month, had caused some crop damage and claimed one life in Srikakulam district bordering Odisha. However, the subsequent heavy rains and floods claimed 58 lives and damaged crops over 13 lakh hectares.