The Andhra Pradesh Government today asked the people not to fear or panic over Phailin cyclone, but said it could be as severe as the super cyclone that struck the State in 1996.
Phailin, which lay centred about 450 kms off Visakhapatnam coast, is expected to cross the north Andhra-Odisha coast tomorrow evening as a severe cyclonic storm.
State Revenue Minister, Raghuveera Reddy said the cyclone could throw up winds of 215 km per hour speed and the three districts of north coastal Andhra district could experience rains up to 25 cms. “As of now (1330 hrs), indications are that the cyclone could be as severe as the one that struck Andhra Pradesh in 1996. We cannot prevent a cyclone, but can take steps to mitigate its impact,” he told media persons here today.
The November 1996 cyclone had uprooted about 300 kms of developed land, killing about 1000 people and damaging about 60,000 homes.
Efforts have begun to move over 64,000 people living in the low lying areas of the three districts to nearby cyclone shelters as a precautionary measure. These include 40,000 from Visakhapatnam district, 25,000 from Srikakulam district and 4,000 from Vizianagaram district.
“We have received information that all, but 30 fishing boats, are back from fishing. We are sending special officers from here to three district headquarters,” he said.