Weather officials in India's southern Andhra Pradesh sound a warning as a
cyclone Khai Muk over Bay of Bengal threatens to hit the coast.

VISAKHAPATNAM (NOVEMBER 15, 2008) ANI-
Weather officials in India's southern Andhra Pradesh sounded a
warning on Saturday (November 15) as a cyclone Khai Muk over Bay of Bengal
threatens to hit the coast.

The state government has warned all nine coastal districts to be on alert
and take necessary steps to evacuate the people from areas near the coast and
also the low-lying places.

Visakhapatnam cyclone warning centre officials said the storm lay centred
about 230 km southeast of Machilipatnam.

"Yesterday's cyclone in the Bay of Bengal Khai Muk has further moved
in the north westerly direction. Presently, it is located at 230 km south east
of Machalipatnam and its effects…There will be widespread rain in south
coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated heavy rains in north coastal Andhra
Pradesh, isolated heavy to very heavy rains in south coastal Andhra
Pradesh," said Venkateswarli, director of cyclone warning centre.

It is likely to move in a northwesterly direction and cross the Andhra
coast between Bapatla and Kakinada, near Machilipatnam.

Officials warned that under the influence of the cyclone, heavy to very
heavy rainfall was likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 24
hours. Gale winds with a speed of 75 km to 85 km are likely along and off
Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Visakhapatnam.

The centre predicted one to two metre high tidal waves at the time of the
storm hitting the coast. The authorities have hoisted warning signals on all
ports along the Andhra coast and warned fishermen against venturing into the
sea.

Andhra Pradesh has a 1,000 km long coast along the Bay of Bengal and is
prone to floods and cyclones.

The worst cyclone in the region hit in 1977 killing about 10,000 people and
rendering over three million homeless.