Metro India News | AMARAVATI

With a potential cyclone brewing over the Bay of Bengal, Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaiduhas urged farmers and fishermen to remain on high alert. He warned that the deep depression over the South Andaman Sea is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm within the next 48 hours, prompting the state government to issue precautionary directives to all departments.

The minister appealed to farmers to take advance protective measures to prevent crop loss. He specifically advised paddy farmers who have completed harvesting to immediately shift their produce to safer locations. To safeguard harvested grain from rain damage, the government is distributing tarpaulin sheets free of cost, he said, encouraging farmers to contact district authorities to obtain them. Atchannaidu also instructed field-level agriculture officials to remain accessible and provide timely guidance to farmers.

Cautioning that sea conditions are already rough, Atchannaidu made it clear that fishermen should not venture into the waters under any circumstances. Those who have already gone out to sea have been directed to return to the coast without delay. The minister further emphasized that all government departments must work in close coordination to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the public, particularly farmers and coastal communities.