Cyclone Laila inches closer to Andhra coast

RAJAHMUNDRY (ANDHRA): Normal life has been badly affected in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district due to heavy rains and strong winds caused by cyclone `Laila'.

At least eight persons were killed as heavy rains accompanied by fierce winds battered the coastal districts of the state on Wednesday ahead of cyclone Laila which continued its collision course with the Andhra coastline and is now set to make a landfall close to Machilipatnam in the late afternoon or evening of Thursday.

Air, train and bus services were thrown out of gear in the East Godavari district. A Rajahmundry-Hyderabad Kingfisher flight returned to the Andhra Pradesh capital without landing here today in view of inclement weather conditions, officials said. Several air passengers have cancelled their tickets for the next two days, airline sources said.

A number of trains passing through the district are running late due to submergence of rail tracks at several places. Road traffic has been disrupted due to uprooting of trees and electric poles.

The coastal district experienced heavy rains last evening, but there was some relief as downpour stopped this morning. Several areas were plunged into darkness and communication systems snapped.

Collector M Ravichandra said the cyclonic storm was likely to cross Kakinada at 1800 hrs. He said the situation is being monitored regularly and all precautionary steps have been taken to deal with any eventuality.

The government has appointed a Special Officer, J S V Prasad, to coordinate with the district administration in relief and rescue operations.

By Wednesday night, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur experienced heavy rainfall and the inclement weather was spreading to Nellore, Prakasam and Visakhapatnam districts. Three persons were electrocuted in Krishna district while five persons were killed due to different incidents caused by the rains and accompanying winds in the other coastal districts since Wednesday evening.

The cyclone is slated to generate wind up to a speed of 125 kmph and a heavy rainfall of up to 25 cms or more in the coastal region over the next 36 hours. Because of the gales and a storm surge of up to two metres above the regular tide, low-lying areas in the coastal districts will get inundated, electric poles uprooted, power and communication lines snapped, thatched huts washed away, trees uprooted and escape routes flooded, the met office said.

Nearly 30,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas in the coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Evacuation of people from low-lying areas in all the nine coastal districts began on Wednesday evening and a major relief camp set up in Machilipatnam. As many as 770 villages in these districts are likely to bear the brunt of heavy rains. People have been advised to keep important documents and valuables ready and be ready to move to shelters at short notice.

The state government has directed the army to be on standby. Relief teams armed with rescue and relief material, helicopters and boats are ready to be pressed into service. South Central Railway (SCR) and RTC authorities have set up special teams to monitor the damage caused by the cyclone to their properties and take effective preventive and remedial steps.

After reviewing the situation here on Wednesday, revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said the effect of cyclone Laila in the state in the form of rains will remain for another six days. The speed of the gales is expected to intensify to about 140 kmph on Friday and drop to about 105 kmph by Saturday.

The Met office said that the sea condition will be 'phenomenal' along and off the AP coast during the next 36 hours and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. After the cabinet meeting, chief minister K Rosaiah directed the coastal district ministers to rush to their respective areas and oversee rescue and relief operations. Nine IAS officers were also posted as special officers to the 9 coastal districts to execute the operations.

Meanwhile, the Centre is rushing over 400 personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh to meet any exigencies arising out of cyclone Laila. A total of 438 personnel of NDRF along with 64 inflatable boats and search and rescue equipment are being sent to the state. They will be deployed in Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore.