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District Collector M.N. Harendhira Prasad has put the officials on high alert, amid the forecast related to Cyclone Montha, which is likely to trigger heavy rain in Andhra Pradesh for four days, beginning Sunday. The Collector conducted a teleconference with district, mandal, and zonal-level officers on Saturday, reviewing the preparedness. He emphasised that the district administration should be fully prepared to face any eventuality and take all the necessary precautionary measures to prevent loss of life and property. Mr. Harendhira Prasad directed the officials to be present in their respective headquarters. He made it clear that no leaves would be granted to the employees during this period. Mr. Harendhira Prasad asked the officials to ensure that fishermen did not venture into the sea. Those who are in the sea should be brought back immediately. “As heavy rains and gales are expected, people living on the hillocks and low-lying areas should be shifted to safety. Relief centres should be set up immediately. All precautions must be taken to ensure the uninterrupted supply of drinking water. In case of power disruption, restoration works should be taken up immediately,” the Collector said during the meeting. He asked the authorities to keep generators and diesel stocks ready. Medical officers and staff at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) must remain available. The NDRF and SDRF teams should be ready. Control rooms He said that control rooms have been set up at the Collectorate with helpline numbers 0891-2590102 and 0891-2590100. Staff will be available on a shift basis and citizens facing any cyclone-related issues can contact for help, he said. Meanwhile, ASR District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar asked the officials to monitor rain situation in all mandals continuously. He asked the officials to set up control rooms at the district and divisional levels to coordinate emergency response and ensure the availability of essential commodities. The officials were instructed to focus on the situation in the Agency areas. The official should ensure no inconvenience to pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, the elderly, and those in need of immediate medical assistance. The Collector instructed that if any roads are damaged or transportation is disrupted, restoration work should begin immediately. He asked officials to focus particularly on thatched houses, anganwadi centres, and school buildings, and to take prompt action wherever needed. Anakapalli District Collector Vijaya Krishnan has cancelled leaves of all medical staff and employees in view of the cyclone warning. She reviewed the preparedness and preventive measures to be taken ahead of the cyclone. The Collector asked all departments to remain prepared to face any eventuality. She asked that health staff to shift high-risk pregnant women to hospitals in advance. Continuous monitoring of reservoirs and canals must be done, and protective materials should be kept ready in areas prone to breaches, she said. She asked the police to restrict movement of people and vehicles across overflowing streams and culverts.
