Downpour in coastal districts: Lehar cyclone loses its ferocity, spares Andhra this time
Chennai: The coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh were saved from devastation this time on Thursday as the super cyclone Lehar lost its ferocity when it hit Machilipatnam at 2 pm. The third cyclonic storm in over a month, after Phailin and Helen, Lehar which originallly had 200 kmph speed was forecast to cause extensive damage but weakened before it hit the State. Losing its intensity considerably, the
storm turned into a depression. The districts of Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari received rainfall following the cyclone. The State Disaster Management Commissioner said the
downpour was likely to continue over the coastal districts and Telangana in the next 12 hours.
Fishermen were warned not to venture into the sea yet. No casualties were reported.
The Government had made elaborate arrangements like in the previous occasions by requisitioning
Army and NDRF personnel and evacuating 50,000 people from the low-lying areas.
The Met department said Lehar lost intensity as it entered the colder region of the Bay of Bengal.
Besides, a vertical wind shear cut into its intensity.
The cyclone, blowing from south-east direction beyond Bay of Bengal, was on Wednesday described
as ferocious like Phailin which forced Andhra Pradesh and Odisha Governments make unprecedented
preparations. Lakhs of people were evacuated in a first-of-its-kind smooth operation then.
