Cyclone Montha: 401 relief centres readied along Kakinada coast

As many as 401 relief camps have been readied for the people being evacuated along the Kakinada coast as Cyclone Montha is likely to make landfall by Tuesday night.

“Around 12,000 people have been shifted to 76 relief camps. The number of people to be evacuated is expected to rise as 67 villages, five towns and Kakinada city have been identified as the cyclone-affected area,” Kakinada District Collector S. Shan Mohan said in a relesas.

Nearly 1600 school buses are deployed for the evacuation of the people. Those living in the thatched houses are being evacuated to prevent loss of life, said Kakinada MP Tangella Uday Srinivas.

Meanwhile, 49,000 tonnes of paddy and eight tonnes of jaggery are made available for the relief operation.

“Around 1400 lactating mothers and 95 pregnant women have been shifted to the nearby hospitals and 259 medical camps have been set up. A total of 58 ambulances have been ket ready,” the Collector said.

The Kakinada-Uppada coastal belt has been closed for vehicular movements in view of heavy rain and gale.

Mr. Shan Mohan announced that the bus services have been suspended on 44 routes.