The severe cyclonic storm, ‘Helen’ made a landfall at Machilipatnam in Krishna district this afternoon. Heavy rains were lashing the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh which may continue for another 36 hours. Heavy rain may extend to Telangana region as the system will move westwards across coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The system is likely to maintain its intensity for six hours before gradually weakening into a deep depression.

Gale wind speed reaching 70 to 80 km per hour would prevail during this period. The sea condition will continue to be very rough to high along and off the Andhra coast for next 12 hours.

The State Disaster Management Commissioner C. Parthasarathy said in view of the cyclone, all security arrangements have been made in Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, East and West Godavari districts.