Deep depression crosses Andhra coast

Visakhapatnam, June 22: The deep depression over the West Central Bay of Bengal moved northwest and crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast, close to Kakinada, this morning.

According to a special bulletin issued by the Cyclone Warning Centre here, the system was likely to move in the West Northwesterly direction.

An Indian Meteorological Department Spokesman told UNI that under its influence, widespread rains with scattered heavy to very heavy rainfall were likely over Andhra Pradesh, North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry coasts during the next 36 hours.

Extremely heavy rainfall of over 25 cm was also likely at one or two places over Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Prakasam districts during the same period, he said.

Squally winds with speed reaching up to 45 to 55 kmph was likely along and off coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 12 hours. As the sea would be rough, fishermen of Andhra Pradesh, North Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry have been advised not to venture into the sea, the bulletin said.

Chief amounts of rainfall recorded during the last 24 hours (in cm) were Ongole 17, Machilipatnam 12, Kavali seven, Nellore six, Narsapur five, Gannavaram four and Tunit Kalingapatnam, Visakhapatnam Airport and Waltair two each.

Earlier, cautionary signal No.3 had been hoisted at Kalinagapanam, Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Nizampatnam, Vadarevu and Krishnapatnam ports.

A Machilipatnam report said that due to deep depression, the entire Krishna district received heavy rainfall during the last 24 hours. The Diviseema region received the highest downpour, with Avanigadda and Koduru registering 32 cm each, Nagayalanka 31 cm, Mopidevi 17 cm, Challapalli 14 cm and Machilipatnam 12 cm.

Following the torrential rains, several low lying areas were inundated, disrupting normal life.

Meanwhile, Krishna District Collector incharge S Sureshkumar Surendran Nayar reviewed the situation with district level officers of Water works, Rural water schemes, Roads and Buildings, Irrigation, Agriculture and Animal Husbandary departments and directed them to make necessary arrangements in the affected areas.

UNI