The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said, the intensity of cyclonic storm Lehar, which is heading to cross Andhra Pradesh coast on Thursday, has weakened. However, the authorities in five of the nine coastal districts remained on alert. They have evacuated over 26,000 people from vulnerable areas in view of the cyclone alert issued by the IMD. The official said the wind speed of Lehar would be the same as that of Helen, which crossed Machilipatnam coast on Friday. The government has requisitioned six columns of the Army for rescue and relief operations. 

As the cyclone changed its course from Kakinada to Machilipatnam, the officials have also changed the deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, sending more teams to Krishna and Guntur districts.