Friday, October 28 2005 13:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Hyderabad: The coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh were today (Oct 28, 2005) put on high alert as a cyclonic storm is likely to hit the coast between Prakasam and Krishna districts this afternoon, even as three persons were killed in a house collapse in Chittor district.

The storm, which lay centered at 100 Kms off Ongole in the Bay of Bengal, is set to cross the coast between Kavali and Machilipatnam, a spokesman of the Cyclone Warning Centre said in Visakhapatnam today.

Heavy rains are likely in the coastal districts of Nellore, Prakasam, Krishna and Guntur and also several parts in Rayalaseema region, he said.

The district administration is bracing up for massive relief and rehabilitation operations as heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to batter the coastal and other parts of Rayalaseema region over the next 48 hours.

Gales at a speed of 60 to 70 kmph are set to lash the coastal region.

About 10,000 people in low-lying areas of Guntur and Prakasam districts were shifted to safer areas, as several parts along the south coastal region were experiencing heavy rains since yesterday (Oct 27, 2005).

The rains threw normal life out of gear as it disrupted road and rail traffic, besides causing extensive crop damage in the coastal belt.

Three persons were killed last night when a house collapsed at Tamballapally in Chittoor district, bordering Tamil Nadu.