A high alert remained in many parts of Andhra Pradesh including 12 coastal mandals in Nellore, even as authorities stated that cyclonic storm 'Kyant' had weakened into a deep depression on Thursday.
The Deccan Chronicle reported:
Field level officials have been asked to stay put in their respective headquarters and the district collector has conducted tele-conference with the tehsildars and mandal level officials to ensure arrangements to shift the people to safer places in case of floods.
An emergency contact number has also been set up at 0861-2331261
It was earlier reported that the depression is likely to move towards west-south and weaken further into a depression before moving towards south coastal AP or adjoining north Tamil Nadu coast.
According to Skymet Weather, light to moderate rains and thundershowers over South Coastal Andhra Pradesh is expected on Friday with few areas likely to record one or two heavy spells.
Though Visakhapatnam can heave a sigh of relief, residents are taking precautionary measures.
The New Indian Express quoted a resident of Kirlampudi Layout, M Srinivas saying that:
“We do not want to take any chance as we had seen the worst during Hudhud. It’s just a precautionary measure that we stored essentials and cash. Any alert about cyclones has become a wake-up call for Vizagites post-Hudhud.”
It was also reported that the citizens are storing essentials items like milk, bread, egg, candle and vegetables.
In October 2014, cyclonic storm HudHud had caused huge destruction in Visakhapatnam coast, killing 49 people and affecting about 21 lakh families in the state.
Inputs IANS