Meteorological Department of India and Visakhapatnam Weather Center have issued cyclone alerts for the most devastating cyclone Lehar that is going to landfall on Thursday.

At present it is at a distance of 1100 km from Machilipatnam, 1050 km from Kakinada and 980 km from Kalingapatnam and moving at a speed of 15 km per hour which will gain a speed of 170 to 200 km per hour by the time it landfalls near Kakinada.

As Lehar is going to be a super cyclone the State is going to face another challenge and a bigger one than the previous cyclones from which the victims are yet to recover.

Because of the velocity of the cyclone the power and communications may get disrupted.  Big trees may fall down and rail road ways may get damaged because of the rains and floods that will follow.  Crops also may be damaged due to heavy rains.

Second precautionary warning is already given to all ports. All schools will be closed on 28th on which day the intensity of the cyclone will be at the highest.

The State Government had a high level meeting on Lehar cyclone. The Chief Secretary Mohanty had a video conference on Monday with all Collectors and officers. The Disaster Management Commissioner stated to the media that special officers are posted and all other prior precautionary measures are taken to face the calamity.

-SriJa