Schools closed, trains cancelled as Andhra Pradesh braces for Cyclone Michaung

Schools in the north coastal region of Andhra Pradesh have been closed. The South Central Railway cancelled 142 long-distance trains.

Flight schedules from Tirupati, too, have been affected.

Related: Chennai region sees heavy downpour as Cyclone Michaung is at its closest to city

The Cyclone ‘Michaung’ impact on the costal districts of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. (Supplied)

At a review meeting, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the collectors of Tirupati, Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Konaseema, and Kakinada districts to maintain high alert. Fishermen have been asked not to venture out into the sea.

The Chief Minister’s Officer said 6.6 lakh tonnes of crops have been moved to safer locations.

In the Central Andhra zone, where the intensity of rainfall is high, farmers in Godavari, Krishna, and Guntur remained apprehensive as the cyclone neared, The paddy fields were to be harvested this month, but the severe rains have flooded the fields. The chief minister asked the district collectors concerned to assess the damage and initiate the payment of compensation after the cyclone.

Vehicular traffic, too, has been hit as incessant rains lashed several parts of the state.

Meanwhile, the state government issued district/city-wise helpline numbers to contact in case of emergencies.

The helpline numbers set up for the respective districts/cities are:

• Rajahmundry – 08832420541,
• NTR – 08662575833,
• Vijayawada – 08662571244,
• Kakinada – 08842374227,
• Guntur – 08644227600,
• Bhimavaram (West Godavari) – 08816230098,
• Gudivada (NTR) – 08674242454,
• Tuni (Kakinada) – 08854252172,
• Bapatla – 08643222178,
• Eluru – 08812232267,
• Samalkot (Kakinada) – 08842327010,
• Nellore – 08612345863,
• Gudur (Tirupati) – 08624250795,
• Ongole- 08592280306.