Cyclonic weather affects port operations

Kakinada, Nov 15 (UNI) Due to deep depression and cyclonic weather, port operations in the city came to a standstill here today.

Talking to UNI here, Port Officer Captain Krishnamohan said the cyclonic weather had paralysed port operations and the steel barge movements since early morning.

The danger signal number six was hoisted at the port and there were only two ships anchored at the ports.

The sea was very rough since early morning and the high tides caused the erosion of the road at Uppada Kothapalli., The entire 100-km coast from Tuni to Kakinada was experiencing winds with a velocity of 70 kms per hour along with intermittent rains.

Port authorities have advised fishermen not to venture into sea.

Vehicular movement between Kakinada-Uppada Kothapalli along the beach road was disrupted since noon following a breach in the road adjoining a culvert near Uppada and the authorities diverted the traffic via Uppada-Pithapuram road. The police personnel were patrolling the beach road and dispersing the crowds which gathered to see the turbulent sea and the high tides near Nemam along the beach road.

Meanwhile, Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi said a control room had been opened that would work round the clock to receive information and to supervise the rescue and relief operations.

The administrative machinery was fully geared up to meet any eventuality as per the cyclone mitigation plan, he said, adding already special teams had been deployed in cyclone-prone areas to evacuate the people.

No casualty had been reported so far, he added.

UNI XC AKM SY KN1747