Chief minister warns officials to prepare for severe cyclone.

The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y. Jagan Mohan Reddy, issued a stark warning to state officials on Tuesday, urging them to brace for a severe weather system that is expected to develop over the Bay of Bengal in the coming days. The warning, delivered during a high‑level meeting of the state’s disaster management apparatus, highlighted the potential for heavy rainfall, strong winds and storm surges that could affect large swathes of the coastal districts..

The chief minister underscored that the administration must ensure that all preparatory measures are in place before the system makes landfall, stressing that the safety of lives and property depends on swift, coordinated action.The meeting, held at the chief minister’s office in Amaravati, brought together senior officials from the state disaster response force, the police, the fire‑service, the health department and the irrigation ministry. Each department was instructed to review its contingency plans and to conduct a rapid assessment of vulnerable infrastructure, including schools, hospitals, power substations and critical water‑storage facilities. Officials were asked to finalize evacuation protocols for the districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Krishna, where the projected path of the cyclone indicates the greatest risk.“We cannot afford any lapses,” Jagan Mohan Reddy told the assembled officers..

“The cyclone will test our readiness. I expect every department to be on standby, to communicate clearly with the public and to act decisively when the situation demands it.” The chief minister’s remarks echoed earlier advisories issued by the India Meteorological Department, which has placed the system under a ‘very severe cyclonic storm’ warning, indicating wind speeds of 118–166 kilometres per hour. Meteorologists expect the system to intensify as it draws warm, moist air from the Bay of Bengal, with landfall likely before the weekend.In addition to the immediate disaster‑response directives, the chief minister used the forum to reiterate the state’s commitment to long‑term water security..

He called for the accelerated completion of thirty‑six priority irrigation projects that have been earmarked under the state’s Water Resources Development Programme. The projects, spread across the Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra regions, are intended to boost agricultural productivity, mitigate drought risk and enhance the resilience of farming communities that are especially vulnerable to climate‑induced shocks.“The irrigation projects are not a luxury; they are a necessity for our farmers and for the food security of the nation,” the chief minister said. “We must keep to the schedule, even as we deal with this cyclone, because delaying them will only exacerbate the hardships faced by our rural populace.” The chief minister’s appeal comes at a time when the state is grappling with erratic monsoon patterns and a series of droughts that have strained water supplies and reduced crop yields in recent years.State irrigation minister K. C. Reddy responded that the government has already mobilised additional resources to fast‑track the pending works..

According to the ministry, over 60 percent of the targeted irrigation capacity – roughly 2,200 hectares – is expected to be operational by the end of the current fiscal year, provided that construction can proceed without major interruptions. The minister highlighted that several of the projects, such as the Satyavathi Multi‑Purpose Project and the Gundlakamma Reservoir, are already at advanced stages of execution and have benefitted from central‑government co‑funding under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.Local officials in the most cyclone‑prone districts have begun disseminating early warnings to residents via mobile alerts, community loudspeakers and social‑media channels. The district collector of East Godavari, P. R. Reddy, announced that temporary shelters have been prepared in schools and community centres, with provisions for food, water and medical assistance..

“Our priority is to move people out of high‑risk zones before the storm arrives,” he said. “We are also coordinating with the National Disaster Response Force to ensure rapid deployment of rescue teams if needed.”Experts from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology noted that the timing of the cyclone coincides with the peak of the pre‑monsoon season, a period historically marked by heightened cyclonic activity in the Bay of Bengal. S. M. Patil, a senior climatologist, warned that climate change is likely to increase the frequency and intensity of such systems, making preparedness an ongoing challenge for coastal states..

“The convergence of extreme weather events and developmental pressures, such as the need to complete large‑scale irrigation schemes, creates a complex risk landscape,” he explained. “Effective governance will require integrating disaster risk reduction into all facets of planning.”The central government’s National Disaster Management Authority has also been monitoring the situation, with the Ministry of Home Affairs standing by to dispatch additional relief teams if the storm’s impact exceeds state capacities. In a recent briefing, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the central government’s readiness to provide financial assistance, relief materials and technical support to Andhra Pradesh, underscoring the collaborative approach that has been adopted since the 2019 cyclone season.As the cyclonic system continues to organise itself, the chief minister’s office has urged residents to stay informed through official channels and to heed evacuation orders without hesitation..

“Our people’s safety is paramount,” Jagan Mohan Reddy concluded. “We will face this storm together, and we will emerge stronger by staying disciplined, prepared and united.” The next advisory from the India Meteorological Department is expected later today, with updates anticipated hourly as the storm advances toward the coastline..