Strong winds ahead of cyclone Fengal's landfall
Credit: PTI Photo
Hyderabad: As Cyclone Fengal continued its slow approach to the coast, it has caused heavy rainfall in south Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra districts.
In Tirumala, light showers began on Friday morning and continued until night, with the intensity of rain increasing after midnight. Strong winds are accompanying the rainfall. Dense fog has enveloped the entire Tirumala area, leading to a significant drop in temperature on the hill.
Devotees visiting for Lord Venkateswara's darshan have been facing difficulties in reaching their accommodation and collecting laddu prasadam after darshan. Many areas in Nellore have also experienced rainfall since Saturday morning. Low Lying areas in the town are experiencing water logging inconveniencing the general public.
AP Disaster Management Authority, MD, Ronanki Kurmanath, said that the impact of Cyclone Fengal is expected to bring heavy to very heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rainfall in some places across South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.
Strong winds with speeds of 70–90 km/h are likely along the coast of Tirupati, Nellore, and Prakasam districts; there is also a risk of flash floods in Nellore, Chittoor, and Kadapa districts.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu held a review meeting with the Disaster Management Department, District Collectors, Chief Minister's Office, and Real-Time Governance officials regarding the cyclone. He instructed the government machinery at all levels to remain vigilant. The Chief Minister suggested assessing the situation in real time and taking appropriate actions accordingly. He emphasized the need to alert people through continuous monitoring via the Real-Time Governance (RTG) Center.