Cyclone Ditwah triggers light showers in Tirupati, Nellore and Chittoor districts

Chittoor, Nellore and Tirupati districts witnessed light showers under the impact of the cyclonic storm Ditwah on Saturday, though an orange alert was issued for the three districts.

According to realtime information provided by Andhra Pradesh State Development Planning Society, Pennepally in Tirupati district received the day’s maximum of 26.75 mm between 8.30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday. Rainfall recorded in other places was as follows: Nellore 24.25 mm, Poolathota 22.5 mm and Thottambedu 22 mm. Other places in these three districts recorded below 20 mm rainfall until 8 p.m.

However, the sky remained cloudy in many places in Rayalaseema and South Coastal A.P. as the maximum temperatures remained below 30 degree Celsius.

According to 6 p.m. bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday, Ditwah was positioned over the southwest Bay of Bengal, about 90 km east-southeast of Vedaranniyam in Tamil Nadu, 120 km southeast of Karaikal, 220 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 330 km south of Chennai at 2.30 p.m.. It is very likely to reach over southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of November 30.

The cyclone will not make a landfall, but will be centred over Bay of Bengal within a minimum distance of 60 km from the Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coastline on Saturday night. It will move closer to the coastline and will be within a distance of 25 km from T.N.-Puducherry coast by Sunday evening. According to the IMD authorities at Amaravati, the cyclonic storm would have weakened into depression by the time it reaches A.P. coast.

However, the entire State may receive light to moderate rainfall on Sunday (November 30), said IMD, Amaravati, Director S. Stella in a press bulletin. Heavy to very heavy rainfall alert has been sounded for YSR Kadapa, Annamayya and Prakasam districts, while a red alert is in place for Nellore, Chittoor and Tirupati districts, where extremely heavy rainfall is likely in one or two places on Sunday.

Gale winds with speed 60-70 kmph, and gusting up to 80 kmph, likely at isolated places in South Coastal A.P. and Rayalaseema, while squally winds with wind speed 40-50 kmph gusting up to 60 kmph are likely in North Coastal A.P. and Yanam on November 30. Thereafter, the wind speed may come down to 45 kmph on Monday. Light to moderate rain will continue on Monday.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha reviewed the cyclone preparedness at the office of A.P. State Disaster Management Authority on Saturday. She spoke to the District Collectors and directed the officials to ensure the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams be kept ready.

All control rooms must be available 24/7 to people and weather alerts should be communicated clearly to officials at the ground-level, she said, adding that precautionary steps should be taken to prevent any loss of life and to minimise property damage.

People can dial tollfree numbers 112, 1070, 18004250101 for any help.