Very severe cyclone 'Lehar' is expected to be almost as strong as cyclone Phailin. It may cause very heavy rainfall in the next 48 to 72 hours. According to the report from weather department, it is likely to cross the state between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada, nearly 465 km east of capital Hyderabad on Thursday. The weather department has warned that low lying areas in the coastal Kakinada could be inundated when the cyclone makes landfall. Their report describes that the cyclone will effect majorly the East Godavari district. According to this, the District Collector Mrs. Neetu Kumari Prasad has put the district officials on high alert on this. Speaking on this, she has asked the officials to keep a close watch on the situation as heavy rains were likely to occur due to the storm that was likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam near Kakinada around noon on 28th November. She has ordered to close all the educational institutions in the district for 2-days ie., Wednesday & Thursday. Shops and business establishments will remain shut on Thursday, she added. The Army, the Navy and the Coast Guard have been alerted. Fishermen have been asked not to venture into the sea while those already in the sea have been asked to return. The latest warning has triggered fear among the residents of coastal areas of the district that has already experienced two cyclones since October. A control room was arranged with numbers of 0884-1077 & 0884-2365506 in the Collectorate during this cyclone alert.