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Nearly 10,000 people are being evacuated in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district, while 126 pregnant women expected to deliver within a fortnight have been shifted to nearby hospitals along the coastline. All of them are under medical care and will remain in government hospitals until Cyclone Montha makes landfall. As many as 120 relief camps have been opened across the district. The cyclonic storm is likely to make landfall near Kakinada as a severe cyclonic storm on October 28. “By Monday, we aim to evacuate 6,000 people out of the 10,000 likely to be affected along the coastline. Those living in thatched houses are being shifted immediately,” said District Collector R. Mahesh Kumar. On cyclone preparedness, Mr. Mahesh Kumar said hoardings are being removed along 400 km of State highways and 60 km of National Highway–216, as heavy winds are expected in the next two days. Farmers have been advised to stay away from fields to avoid lightning and strong winds. At a review meeting attended by Special Officer for Cyclone Montha and Director of School Education V. Vijaya Ramaraju, the Collector said the Irrigation Department has been instructed not to release Godavari water into branch canals to prevent inundation of standing paddy crops, with heavy rains expected over the next 48 hours. Farmers have voluntarily suspended paddy harvesting, fearing discolouration of grain. Two teams each from the NDRF and SDRF have been deployed to respond to emergency calls and assist in relief operations. 16 relief camps In West Godavari district, irrigation officials have stopped releasing Godavari water into the Western and Central Delta to prevent inundation of paddy and horticultural crops. “The Narsapuram coastline is on alert, and SDRF and NDRF personnel have been deployed to monitor the situation. Irrigation officials have been told to manage the inflows into canals,” said West Godavari District Collector Ch. Nagarani. As many as 16 relief camps have been opened and 68 earthmovers kept ready for post-cyclone relief and restoration of power. Staff of the Village and Ward Secretariats have been deployed in low-lying areas to keep officials updated during rescue operations.
