Lehar has crossed Andhra coast at wind speed of 50-60 km/hr gusting to 70 km/hr.
Weakened Lehar is close to the coast and is expected to cross the coast in about an hour, said IMD
Winds blowing from central India, low winter temperature of water near the coast and wind shear has resulted in weakening of Lehar, said G Sudhakar Rao, scientist & director in-charge, Metrorological Centre, Hyderabad
According to IMD, Squally winds speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail along and off Andhra Pradesh during next 12 hours.
Cyclonic storm ‘Lehar’ over westcentral Bay of Bengal has weakened into a ‘deep depression’
The cyclone was initially predicted to be a very severe one with windspeed 170-180 km/hr gusting up to 200 km/hr. Heavy losses had been predicted
Around 5.30 am today, it was located at 120 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam and 160 km south of Kakinada.
The storm would move west-northwestwards and weaken further as it would cross Andhra Pradesh coast near Machillipatnam as a depression by today afternoon.
Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 24 hours
Intensity of the storm reduced; speed of the winds will be 70-80 km/hr, gusting upto 100 km/hr
Districts likely to be severely affected: Krishna, East Godavari, West Godavari, Guntur
Other districts that will be affected: Visakhapatnam, Prakasam, Nellore, Vizainagaram, Srikakulam
Population likely to be affected : 1,916,218
Number of people to be evacuated, if required: 119,567
People evacuated: 27,348
Number of relief camps opened : 103
NDRF teams deployed: 30
4 helicopters on standby
Three columns of Army positioned
The coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh are on high alert and special officers have been appointed for the nine coastal districts
IMD has recommended total suspension of fishing operations and warned people in affected areas to remain indoors
Following change in location of Lehar's landfall from Kakinada in East Godavari district to Machillipatnam in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh authorities are hurrying to redeploy rescue teams
"Now we will be focusing on three districts, Krishna and the two Godavari districts," says C Parthasarathi, commissioner, the state disaster management department
So far 15,000 people have been moved to safer places in East Godavari district