The District Collectors of coastal districts in the state have been put on alert following the threat of "Nilam" cyclone issued by Indian Meteorological Department.
Addressing a press conference after reviewing the situation with the higher officials, Revenue Minister Dr. N Raghuveera Reddy said that as per the IMD, the cyclonic storm is likely to cross north Tamil Nadu and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coast between Nagapattinam and Nellore by Wednesday. Although the impact of the cyclone would be more on Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the district administrations of Nellore, Prakasam, Chittoor, Guntur and Krishna have been asked to take extra precautions.
The minister informed that a Central Control Room has been set up by the Disaster Management Department in the State Secretariat to monitor the situation. The Control Room with telephone numbers 040-23456005 and 23451043 will be functional round the clock. He said that senior officials would review the situation every three hours, and that collectors have been asked to set up control rooms at Mandal levels.
Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea for the next 48 hours. (INN)