The severe cyclonic storm 'Helen' over west central Bay of Bengal is fast approaching the Machilipatnam coast in Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh for landfall this afternoon. Moving in a westward direction, the system lay centred at about 35 km southeast of Narsapur and 85 km east-northeast of Machilipatnam.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy with the Chief Secretary and other officials today reviewed measures being taken in coastal districts particularly Krishna and Guntur. He asked them to extend all help to the district administration in rescue and relief operations which are already underway.

The Krishna district administration has kept 5 teams of National Disaster Response Force ready. Gudivada, Machilipatnam and Vijayawada revenue divisions were kept on high alert in the district as they were likely to be affected most.

About 130 relief camps were set up for moving people from one hundred villages in low-lying and vulnerable areas in 10 mandals along the coast.

The Met office said, rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and isolated extremely heavy rainfall would occur over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and adjoining West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur districts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 36 hours.Rainfall at most places with isolated heavy to very heavy falls would occur over remaining districts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalseema and Telangana during next 24 hours. Gale wind speed reaching 100-110 kmph, gusting to 120 kmph would prevail over Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, East and West Godavari and Vishakhapatnam districts during the next 12 hours.

Squally wind speed reaching 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph would prevail along and off remaining parts of Andhra Pradesh coast during the same period.