Cyclone Phethai LIVE: Andhra on Red Alert, Landfall Near Kakinada Tonight!

This special report tracks Severe Cyclonic Storm Phethai, set for landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu overseeing the response. The IMD director predicted that 'the landfall is going to be between Mashlipatnam and... Kalingapatnam and this specific area runs through the belt of... Konaseema, Kakinada and Vishakhapatnam'. The storm is expected to hit near Kakinada with wind speeds gusting up to 110 kilometers per hour, prompting red alerts across coastal districts. Widespread impact is anticipated not just in Andhra Pradesh, but also in the neighbouring states of Orissa, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal. Authorities have initiated large-scale evacuations from low-lying regions, established numerous rehabilitation centers, and cancelled or diverted dozens of train and flight services to prevent loss of life and property as the cyclone approaches.