The effect of Cyclone Lehar will begin to show from Wednesday night onwards when rain will start lashing coastal Andhra Pradesh and south coastal Odisha. Good amounts of rain would be witnessed initially in these areas. But as the cyclone moves closer to make landfall on November 28 or on the morning of November 29, the intensity of rain will increase, especially along the Andhra Pradesh coast. The tropical storm is less than 1000 km away from Kakinada and Visakhapatnam, the locations between which it will make landfall.
Andhra Pradesh government has asked the centre to send four helicopters and 15 additional National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams while alerting the army and the navy to tackle any contingency in the nine coastal districts.
C. Parthasarathi, commissioner of Disaster Management, has said that the state had sent requisition for four helicopters to be stationed at Visakhapatnam. These will be moved wherever necessary. He also said that 15 additional teams of NDRF were requisitioned in addition to the 15 already deployed in the state for rescue and relief operations.
Coast Guard, Marine Police and the district superintendents of police have been asked to remain alert and assist the district administration.
Odisha government has also issued high alerts in 10 coastal and southern districts while Ganjam administration has been asked to remain extra cautious as the region may witness heavy rain. Rain may not be as heavy as at coastal Andhra Pradesh but the main concern in Odisha would be the standing crops that may get destroyed due to rain and winds.
Period of heavy to very heavy rain
Six hours prior to the landfall, heavy to very heavy rain would be witnessed in coastal Andhra Pradesh and will continue for over six hours after making landfall. Thereafter, the rain belt will shift to interior parts of South India.
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