The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday scampered to secure thousands of lives in the Machilipatnam area, in the middle of the state's coastline, as Cyclone Helen changed course and drifted nearly 150 kms from the initial place of expected landfall near Ongole town in the southern coast.
The storm is now expected to make landfall near Machilipatnam on Friday afternoon or in the evening, packing wind speeds up to 120 kph (75 mph).