Heavy rainfall as Ron turns cyclonic storm

The Ron cyclonic storm is strengthening and has turned into a cyclone, even as heavy rains have lashed coastal Andhra, with Amalapuram in East Godavari registering 22 cm rainfall on Friday. Winds of 90 to 100 kmph were blowing in the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa. The sea is rough, with metre-high waves hitting the coast. Yellow danger signal has been hoisted by the Indian Meteorological Department. The cyclone is expected to cross the Bangladesh coast on May 22. Rayalaseema is also receiving heavy rainfall. The Ron cyclone is now centred 240 km south-east of Vizag coast. It is expected to touch the Orissa coast on Saturday, and go forward to hit the Bangladesh coast and cross the Coxbazaar area by Sunday. Fishermen in Odisha have been warned against venturing into the sea. At Vizag, the fishermen have not been going out into the sea in the past 4 days. The Orissa government had alerted the District Collectors along the coast. The Andhra Pradesh government, too, is getting ready to meet any eventuality. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had conducted a review meeting with officials.