Cyclone 'Lehar' likely to hit Andhra Pradesh on Thursday

NEW DELHI: Cyclonic storm " Lehar", which is likely to hit the Andhra coast Thursday afternoon, is 650 km east-southeast of Machillipatnam and 600 km east-southeast of Kakinada, the MeT department said.

According to M Mohapatra, scientist ( cyclone warning), the "very severe cyclonic storm", currently with winds flowing up to 140-150 kmph, would itensify further and is likely to have strong winds with 150-160 kmph when it hits the Andhra Pradesh coast near Machillipatnam tomorrow.

Squally winds with speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph would commence along and off Andhra Pradesh from today evening.

It would increase in intensity with gale wind speed reaching 150-160 kmph gusting to 170 kmph along and off coastal districts of Guntur, Krishna, west and east Godavari and Vishakhapatnam districts of Andhra Pradesh and Yanam district of Puducherry and 100-110 kmph gusting to 120 kmph over Vizianagaram and Prakasham districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.

MeT officials said storm surge of height about 2-3 metres above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of west and east Godavari, Guntur and Krishna and Yanam districts and about 1 metre near Visakhapatnam district at the time of landfall.

The department has also said there could be extensive damage to kutcha houses, disruption of power and communication line, rail and road traffic and a potential threat from flying debris. It has also predicted flooding of escape routes and extensive damage to agricultural crops.