As Cyclone Lehar closes in to make landfall tomorrow, here's a look at Kakinada and Machilipatnam, areas that'll be worst affected by the storm at wind speeds of over 150 kmph and heavy rainfall.
Kakinada
The coastal town of Kakinada is the district headquarter of East Godavari in coastal Andhra Pradesh. It is located at latitude 16.3ºN and 82.3ºE. It has a population of around 3 lakh (approx.) according the 2001 census. The length of the city is around 15 km and width is 6 km.
Due to its location along the east coast, the city remains prone to the threat of tropical cyclones that develop on the coast from October to December. The city receives most of its rain from the southwest monsoon but also sees rain from northeast monsoon. The city receives around 450 mm of average rain during the months of November and December.
East Godavari district in which Kakinada lies, had lost four lives in the event of cyclone Helen. A population of 70,303 in 96 villages was affected by Cyclone Helen and around 3,300 people living in the low lying areas had to be shifted to relief camps last week.
What will be affected in Kakinada?
Kakinada has a well-defined industrial belt along the east coast. From Fertilizer to Petrolium products, fishing and aqua culture to rice industry flourish in this industrial belt. Jindal steel works is building a ship repair and other shipyard facilities near Kakinada port with an investment of about US $250 million. All this could be at stake in Kakinada during the landfall of Cyclone Lehar.
Machilipatnam
Machilipatnam, the district headquarter of Krishna in coastal Andhra Pradesh, is prone to the wrath of tropical storms emerging in the Bay of Bengal especially during northeast monsoon season from mid-October to December. The city was devastated by the 2004 Tsunami. It is located at latitude 16.1ºN and 81.1ºE. According to the 2001 census, the city has a population of 1,83,370.
The city experiences rain from southwest monsoon as well as from northeast monsoon. The average rainfall during the month of October is 177 mm while in November, it is 116 mm.
Recently, Cyclone Helen that made landfall here had brought the city to a standstill as it received very heavy rain and killed six people in the city.
What will be affected in Machilipatnam?
Small scale industries based on Fashion Gold (rolled gold), which Machilipatnam is famous for, could take a hit due to Cyclone Lehar. The main occupation of locals resides in fishing and agriculture and both are heavily at stake here.
