AP CM Kiran Kumar Reddy takes stock of cyclone situation; officials on alert

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today directed Chief Secretary to monitor the preparedness for cyclone ' Phailin' with District Collectors and officials of defence forces and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Reddy enquired about the cyclone situation this morning and directed the officials to be on high alert and ready to deal with any eventuality, official sources said.

State Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy reached Visakhapatnam this morning and would proceed to Srikakulam district, bordering Odisha, which is expected to be among the worst-hit.

Talking to reporters in Visakhapatnam, the Minister said all departments concerned have been put on alert. Fishermen, who went for fishing, were being brought back.

Medical Education Minister K Murali Mohan and senior officials are closely monitoring the situation in Srikakulam district, the sources said.

The Srikakulam Collector has already ordered closure of shops and various institutions and also controlled movement of vehicular traffic as wind speed is expected to be very high.

As many as 52,000 residents were today evacuated and 25,000 people accommodated in cyclone shelters in Srikakulam district.