Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh): Rain and wind continued to lash Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district on Saturday ahead of Cyclone Jawad making landfall while the railways have cancelled around 38 trains to ensure the safety of passengers.

"It has been raining continuously across the district since yesterday. In some parts of the district, wind speeds are being reported at 50-55 kmph. There are currently 79 cyclone shelters in operation. The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force and fire brigade teams are on alert and have been deployed across the entire district," the Collector of Srikakulam said.

Around 38 trains scheduled to depart on December 5 and one of December 6 have also been cancelled as a precautionary measure.

"Waltair Division of East Coast Railway is prepared to face the challenges posed by cyclone Jawad. We are in touch with the state government, SDRF, NDRF and other agencies. Our personnel are on alert and in full preparedness," said AK Satpathy, Divisional Railway Manager.

Eleven teams of the National Disaster Response Force, five teams of State Disaster Response Force, six Coast Guard teams and ten Marine Police teams have been deployed in Vishakapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.
 

According to the India Meteorological Department forecast on Saturday, the cyclone may weaken into a deep depression by the time it reaches the coast of Odisha's Puri district on Sunday.
 

"Jawad currently lays centered over the west-central Bay of Bengal about 230 km southeast of Vishakhapatnam, 340 km south of Gopalpur, 410 km south-southwest of Puri and 490 km south-southwest of Paradip," the IMD said.