AP CM puts Coastal District Collectors on alert

Hyderabad, Sep 12 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy put on high alert the Collectorates of all the coastal districts after a severe earthquake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, hit the Sumatra island of Indonesia this evening.

Returning from Khammam, the Chief Minister spoke to the Chief Secretary and also the Disaster Management Commissioner and asked them to alert the Coastal District collectors and take necessary precautionary measures immediately.

Mr Reddy asked them to advise fishermen not to venture into the sea.

The District Collectors were asked to be ready to evacuate people from low-lying areas, an official release said.

The Chief Minister asked the senior officials to constantly monitor the situation and be ready for relief measures as and when necessary.

The districts put on high alert were Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore, they added.

UNI