Cyclone Michaung | As Andhra Pradesh prepares for landfall, coastal Tamil Nadu braces for heavy rain.

The Met Office predicts that a depression will develop into Cyclone Michaung by December 4, with landfall in Andhra Pradesh on December 5; preparations for rescue, relief, and evacuation efforts are underway.

As a deep depression intensified over the Bay of Bengal, moving northwest and likely to evolve into Cyclone Michaung by December 3 morning, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu prepared for heavy rainfall in their coastal districts. Winds of 80 to 90 kmph with gusts of up to 100 kmph are expected, according to the India Meteorological Department on December 2.

Disaster relief efforts are underway along the coast, with state and national teams on the ground and naval forces in the region on standby. Fishermen have been advised not to go out to sea, and 144 trains have been cancelled. In Andhra Pradesh, relief camps are being established, and plans are being made to evacuate coastal areas if necessary.

On December 2, 2023, fishermen at Jalaripeta fishing colony in Visakhapatnam relocate their boats to safety in anticipation of Cyclone Michaung.

The storm made landfall on December 5th. Deep depression prevailed over the southwest Bay of Bengal in December, about 420 kilometres southeast of Chennai. The cyclonic storm is expected to reach the waters off southern Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu by December 4 morning, and then move parallel to the coast, making landfall between Nellore and Machilipatnam a day later, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai.

On December 3, heavy to very heavy rain is expected in parts of Tamil Nadu. On December 4 and 5, extremely heavy rains are possible in isolated areas of coastal Andhra and Yanam. As the cyclone makes landfall, heavy rains are expected in Rayalaseema and Odisha.

Rescue crews

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) will deploy ten teams with the necessary rescue equipment to all areas where the cyclonic storm is expected to pass, according to NDRF 10th Battalion Commandant Zahid Khan.

Teams will be stationed in Krishna, Prakasam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Nellore, West and East Godavari, Srikakulam, and other districts in Andhra Pradesh. "Two teams have already been deployed in Tirupati and Yanam, and more teams are moving to other areas that may be affected," Mr. Khan said, adding that women personnel were being included in each team to assist in the rescue of female victims.

Precautions for safety

Fishermen in 63 villages have been asked not to go out into the sea, river, or backwaters from December 1 to 6, and farmers have been told to harvest mature crops as soon as possible.

As a precaution, the South Central Railway (SCR) has cancelled 144 trains scheduled to run between December 3 and 7. According to an SCR statement, these include trains running along routes connecting various stations in Tamil Nadu, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Puducherry, Bengaluru, New Delhi, Howrah, and Lucknow.

Preparations for disaster relief

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed that officials be on high alert, that affected people be relocated from coastal areas to safer locations, that relief camps be set up, and that adequate supplies of milk, drinking water, and food be made available.

The state government has allocated 2 crore to the Tirupati district, as well as 1 crore to the SPSR Nellore, Prakasam, Bapatla, Krishna, West Godavari, Dr BR Ambedkar Konaseema, and Kakinada districts, for relief efforts.

Naval assistance

The Eastern Naval Command is closely monitoring the approaching cyclone and is ready to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief. To supplement civilian resources, flood relief and diving teams have been kept on standby.

With relief supplies, dive teams, and medical personnel on hand, naval ships are prepared to help those in need along the east coast. At the Naval air stations, INS Dega in Visakhapatnam and INS Rajali close to Chennai, naval aircraft have also been kept ready to conduct aerial surveys, evacuate casualties, and airdrop relief supplies when necessary.