The State government on Wednesday sounded a high alert in the wake of a cyclonic storm that is likely to hit south Andhra Pradesh coast and north Tamil Nadu in the next 24 hours.
According to Cyclone Warning Centre duty officer Subba Rao, the low pressure formed near the Thailand coast has now neared Andaman Islands.
It is expected to reach Bay of Bengal by Thursday.
"The low pressure area is located at South Andaman, 1500 km off Visakhapatnam. It is moving in west–north-easterly direction. We can clearly say how it is intensifying and what will be its effects only by Thursday evening. It is expected that heavy to very heavy rains may hit the entire coast from Visakhapatnam to Nellore, and parts of Rayalaseema," Subba Rao stated.
This low pressure may intensify and likely to hit the north coast of Sri Lanka or south of Tamil Nadu.
According to weather analysts, if a super cyclone hits the coast, it will have a devastating effect as winds with 225 kmph velocity might be generated.
Cyclones having a speed of about 65 to 75 kmph are likely to commence off the Andhra coast from Wednesday and the wind speeds may increase as they come closer to the coasts, according to the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre. Fishermen have been advised against venturing out into sea.
Meanwhile, the government has put the official machinery in all the 9 coastal districts on high alert, and the grants of leave of all employees, especially in departments like disaster management, revenue, police, fire services, electricity, roads and buildings and panchayat raj have been cancelled.