Hyderabad, December 17: Cyclone Phethai has made a landfall at Katrenikona in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. Heavy rains and winds are experienced in many areas of the district. Entire Konaseema, delta region in East Godavari District, is receiving heavy rainfall. The government has alerted people to be careful and a warning has been issued to fisherfolks to not venture into the sea.

“However, due to unfavourable environmental conditions, it is likely to weaken slightly before landfall and cross the coast as a cyclonic storm,” said MeT. Cyclone Phethai: Over 50 Trains Cancelled in Andhra Pradesh Citing Severe Storm.

The Real-Time Governance Society (RTGS) of the state government had alerted all nine coastal districts. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and The State Disaster Response Force (SRDF) were kept on a standby. MeT department had stated that Phethai, the cyclone, is very likely to move nearly northwards and cross Andhra coast around Kakinada on Monday afternoon.

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh said, "We are bracing up to face Cyclone Phethai. Response teams and officials numbering more than 10,000 are stationed as part of disaster preparedness. Hoping that the loss of life and property will be minimal!" Cyclone Phethai to Intensify, Move Towards Andhra Pradesh.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed collectors of all coastal districts to take necessary steps to prevent loss of lives. In Andhra Pradesh, 22 passenger trains have been cancelled, one train rescheduled and one train partially cancelled in view of the rainfall due to Cyclone Phethai.

Phethai is the third cyclone that Andhra Pradesh is going to witness in a span of three months. Earlier, Cyclone Gaja and Titli had also affected the coastal state.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 17, 2018 01:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).