Hyderabad: Fourteen coastal mandals in the Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh have been set on high alert after the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Cyclone Phethai is most likely to make a landfall between Ongole and Prakasam on December 17, Monday.

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The mandals likely to be affected by this cyclone have been identified as Nagayalanka, Koduru, Bantumilli, Kruthivennu, Machilipatnam, Avanigadda, Mopidevi, Challapalli, Pedana and Guduru in Krishna district; Mogalthur, Kalla, Bhimavaram, Narsapuram, Yellamanchili, Achanta in West Godavari district; Thodangi, Kothapall, Tallavaru, Uppalaguptam, Allavaram, Mallkipuram in East Godavari district; and Nizampatnam, Bapatla, Repalle, Nagaram in Guntur. The officials estimate that a total of 5.9 lakh people would be affected by the predicted cyclone that is to hit the district.

The district officials have been deployed as special officers in Ongole, Tanguturu, Singarayakonda, Ulavapadu, Gudluru, Jarugumilli, Kothapatnam, NG Padu, Chinna Ganjam, Vetapalem, Chirala, Karemchedu, Kandukuru and SN Pada mandals for any form of assistance to the locals.

The officials have also set up control rooms with 24/7 helpline numbers. For Gudivada: 08674 243697, Nuzvid: 08656 2574454, Guntur: 08648 257535 Vijaywada: 0866 2574454, Machilipatnam: 08672 252486, Nizampatnam: 08648 257535.

As part of the preparations, the officials have set up a total of 68 relief centres in Krishna district and 155 fire personnel are on standby. They have also deployed 15 health and medical teams on alert for relief operations in case of medical emergency. Earthmovers have also been kept on standby to clear the uprooted trees in order to avoid casualties. For water supply, the Rural Water Supply will set up three water tankers in each panchayat, according to officials. The electricity department has also instructed each official to be stationed every 10 km to immediately restore electricity, in case of a power cut.