The Visakhapatnam [Images] Cyclone Warning Centre said the cyclonic storm hit the coast around 8 AM on Monday. Heavy gales and rains lashed the coastal districts, particularly Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam under the impact of the deep depression that intensified into a cyclonic storm. Kalingapatnam recorded 35.5 centimetres of rain in the last 24 hours. Visakhapatnam received 13 centimetres of rainfall.

The meteorological department said that heavy rains would continue in the north coastal districts for the next 24 hours. Gales with wind speeds of 70 to 80 kilometres per hour would persist for the next 12 hours. The sea is very rough along and off the coast due to the storm surges.

Cautionary signals have been hoisted at Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Vodarevu, Machilipatnam and Nizampatnam and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. 

Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasad Rao said that the district collectors in north coastal districts have put the revenue authorities on high alert. People in the low-lying areas and coastal villages have been shifted to safer places. Several towns are flooded with rainwater.

Vamsadhara river is also rising due to heavy rains in its catchment areas in Orissa. As the water reached danger level of 1.1 lakh cusecs, 22 flood gates at Gotta Barrage were opened. Nagavalli river is also receiving heavy inflows due to rains.

Authorities have evacuated the villages on the riverbank due to flood threat. A flood-monitoring cell has been set up in the collectorates to monitor the situation.

The Minister pointed out that the authorities have taken all precautionary measures to deal with any eventuality. Officials of various departments have been asked to form teams to take up relief and rescue operations. He said the cyclone impacted the area between Gopalpur in Orissa and Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh.

The relief commissioner is monitoring the situation from Hyderabad. Special medical teams are moving into the affected areas to prevent the spread of epidemics. 

So far 35 centimetres of rainfall has been recorded in the severely affected areas and rivulets, tanks, culverts and roads had breached at several places. Engineers from Irrigation, Panchayat Raj and Roads and Buildings department have mobilised men and material to fill up the breaches on a war footing. Mandal revenue officers have been asked to take up enumeration of losses to crops and private and public properties.

South coastal and north Telangana districts also reported heavy rains. Godavari river is swelling by the hour with huge inflows from its tributaries-Sabari and Indravati-due to heavy rains in catchment areas in Maharashtra and Chattisgarh. The second flood warning was issued as the water level reached 48 feet at the temple town of Bhadrachalam in Khammam district.

The district collector asked the officials to stay in their respective places and take up rescue and relief operations.  Essential commodities have been stocked in all mandal towns along the course of the river to meet any emergency. At Dowleswaram barrage in east Godavari district, the irrigation department has been letting out water at the rate of eight lakh cusecs into the sea.

Some 600 Bangladeshi fishermen on 60 boats are reported missing following the cyclonic storm that brewed from a depression over the Bay of Bengal. The Fish Traders Association in coastal Patuakhali district said there is no trace of the boats that were due back home two days ago, the Daily Star newspaper said on Monday.

The deep depression formed over the Bay on Sunday intensified into a cyclonic storm; causing unusual high tides that have flooded some low-lying coastal areas while seasonal storms have been frequent during the past several days.

Usually most of those listed missing return home after taking shelter in safe coasts.

(With inputs from PTI)