MUNI THE BOSS

After keeping the people and the State Government on a high alert for two days, the “very severe cyclonic storm” in the Bay of Bengal ‘Jal' dissipated into a mere cyclonic storm even before striking the coast and was set to weaken further.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD), which was closely monitoring Jal's movement, said the cyclone was likely to make a landfall between Chennai and Nellore anytime. Heavy rains are forecast in Nellore, Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna and Chittoor districts besides strong gales with speeds up to 90 kmph along and off the coast.

Moves closer to coast

According to IMD, Jal moved closer to the coast by 8.30 p.m. and lay 150 km from Chennai and 280 km from Nellore. As the sea would still be “very rough”, high tides might continue and inundate low-lying areas. Fishermen have been asked to suspend all forms of fishing activity.

The people and administration in these districts where massive evacuation was undertaken heaved a sigh of relief as the intensity of Jal came down. But, the high alert issued to collectors, the Navy and Disaster Management Response Force remained. Revenue Minister D. Prasada Rao told reporters that the Coast Guard was asked to rescue nine persons sighted in a boat tossed in the sea by waves in West Godavari district. A helicopter could not be rushed due to inclement weather. About 30 fishermen who set out into the sea earlier this week in eight boats from Avanigadda area of Krishna district, however, reached the shore much to the delight of their families.

Three deaths have been reported, one each in Nellore, Chittoor and Guntur-- one in house-collapse and two due to electrocution. The Minister said the loss so far was minimum, with only 127 villages being affected, 10 other habitations inundated and 135 houses destroyed. A large number of people, shifted from villages, were still stationed at 235 relief camps, 56 of them in Nellore.

Contrary to fears about widespread rains, Nellore and other districts received isolated falls. Disaster Management Commissioner T. Radha received reports suggesting that seawater surged onto the shore, causing erosion at some places in Nellore and Prakasam districts.

Cancelling a scheduled trip to Guntur, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah reviewed the situation with Ministers and officials and directed that the alert should not be relaxed till the cyclone threat subsided fully.