Laila moving towards north-north easterly direction of Orissa

Visakhapatnam, May 21 : The severe cyclone 'Laila,' that crossed the coast near Bapatla, and continued to be close to Machilipatnam coast, was moving towards North-North easterly direction of Orissa coast this morning.

A spokesman of for Cyclone Warning Centre (CWC)the cyclone was likely to remain in Andhra coast for the next 24 hours.Under its influence, rainfall or thundershowers were likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh in the next 24 hours.Strong winds with speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph was likely along and off north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Güntur district.The sea condition would be very rough and fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea, the spokesman added.
===============================================

Rain lashes Vijayawada, low-lying areas inundated

Vijayawada,May 21: Heavy rain accompanied by strong gales lashed the city for more than two hours in the early hours of today under the influence of cyclonic storm.Many low-lying areas were inundated, trees uprooted and arterial roads submerged with knee-deep water.In Krishna District, power supply was disrupted in many coastal mandals following high velocity of winds, reports reaching here said.that horticulture crops suffered losses due to heavy rains caused by 'Laila' in about eight mandals in the district. Other crops worth Rs 3.48 crore was also damaged following rains.The total loss of Horticulture crop was estimated at Rs 4.4 crore.Mostly banana, betel, vine, drumstick and other crops bore the burnt in Mopidevi, Avanigadda, Challapalli, Machilipatnam, Yanamalakuduru, Ghantasala, and Kankipadu mandals, he said.The official, however, said there was not much loss for mango crops even though fruit dropping occurred due to strong gales and heavy rains.The District Administration rehabilitated more than 6,500 people from 23 vulnerable villages of eight coastal mandals along the coast line in relief camps.
================================================

4 of family killed as wall collapses on thatched house

Vijayawada, May 21 : Four members of a family were buried alive and another injured when an underconstruction wall of a building collapsed on a thatched house in which they were residing at Chittinagar here in the wee hours of today.According to police, the victims were residing in a hilly area in the old city. The wall caved in and fell on their dwelling after it was soaked due to incessant rains for the last two days.The deceased were identified as Dasari Durga (40), Dasari Anil Kumar (30), Dasari Mary (25) and Dasari Namrata (2), police said, adding that Dasari Durga Rao, the husband of Durga escaped miraculously with minor injuries.The bodies were sent to the government general hospital for post-mortem, police added.
===============================================

Cyclone Laila stationary, toll up at 27 in coastal Andhra

Hyderabad, May 21 : Cyclonic storm Laila remained stationary near south coastal Andhra Pradesh as heavy rains and gales continued to batter the region for the third consecutive day Friday, killing 27 people and inundating towns and villages.The transport system was paralysed and electricity and communication disrupted. Heavy downpour continued in the worst-hit Prakasam and Guntur district while Nellore and Krishna districts were also receiving rains accompanied by strong winds. After hitting the coast near Bapatla town in Guntur district Thursday, the cyclone re-emerged into Bay of Bengal and practically remained stationary near the port town of Machilipatnam in Krishna district. "The system is likely to weaken gradually and move initially in a northerly direction and then recurve into a northeasterly direction towards Orissa," an India Meteorological Department (IMD) bulletin said at 7.30 a.m. Friday. It has forecast widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls and isolated extremely heavy falls (25 cm or more) over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during the next 24 hours. Widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy falls is likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh during the same period. Gale force wind with speed reaching 75-85 kmph gusting to 95 kmph is likely along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast during the next 12 hours. With the weather office forecasting more rains, the authorities said the threat for Andhra Pradesh was not yet over. The death toll due to the cyclone rose to 27. Four members of a family, including two children, were killed in a wall collapse in Vijayawada early Friday. Over 50,000 people remained in 255 relief camps. "The threat is not over. People in relief camps should not return home unless the cyclone warning is withdrawn," said Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Minister D.Prasada Rao.The heavy rains and gales have caused widespread destruction in south coastal region, especially in Prakasam district. At least 11 towns and hundreds of villages remained under darkness as electricity system was badly disrupted in the region. The strong winds with speed crossing 100 km per hour uprooted trees, electricity and communication towers and damaged mango, banana and other horticulture crops over thousands of acres. Authorities said the exact damages would be known only after the rains recede. Ongole town and dozens of villages in Prakasam district were marooned as personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) began rescue and relief operations. Authorities have also kept ready 10 helicopters while armed forces have moved three columns and mobilised four helicopters. The Indian Air Force has also kept 11 aircraft on standby to meet any eventuality. Road transport in south coastal district came to a standstill due to rains and uprooted trees. The Chennai-Kolkata national highway in Ongole town is under four feet water. Train services remained paralysed for the second day. Over 100 trains have been cancelled while several other trains were diverted. The movement of trains between Chennai and Vijayawada has come to a complete halt.
================================================

Laila hits Andhra coast, wreaks havoc

Hyderabad/New Delhi, May 20: Cyclonic storm Laila, accompanied by heavy rains, high storm surges and winds with speed of 125 km per hour, hit southern part of Andhra Pradesh coast Thursday afternoon.After changing its course repeatedly in the Bay of Bengal during the last three days, the cyclone Thursday afternoon crossed the Andhra coast, about 50 km from Bapatla, a town in southern coastal district of Guntur. After the landfall, the cyclone re-emerged in northern Bay of Bengal and was heading towards Balasore in Orissa. Weather officials said the course of Laila was not unusual as there were precedents of cyclones re-emerging on sea after landfall. "We are still assessing the damages caused by the cyclone in coastal Andhra," a top official in the disaster management department said in Hyderabad. However, massive destruction is not likely as the cyclone had shown signs of weakening before the landfall. "The intensity of cyclone Laila has reduced in the last 12 hours and it will further weaken in the next couple of hours. But it will continue to cause heavy rainfall over coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana during next 36 hours," Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) director general A.K. Tyagi told reporters in New Delhi.The weather office has also forecast rains in Rayalaseema and Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh. Incessant rains since Wednesday have already wrecked havoc in south coastal region, uprooting trees, damaging electricity and communication systems and destroying crops. The downpour, which was as high as 34 cm in Prakasam district during the last 24 hours, paralysed normal life and severely affected road and rail transport. The storm has claimed 14 lives so far. Four deaths were reported Thursday. Three people were killed in Nellore while one person was killed in Krishna district. The rain and accompanying trong gales have wrecked havoc in the six coastal districts where at least 11 towns and 1,500 villages plunged into darkness and communications were disrupted. Electricity poles and transformers have been uprooted, power lines snapped, and communication towers have collapsed. Heavy to very heavy rains have inundated several parts of the port town of Machilipatnam in Krishna district. Large parts of Ongole town in Prakasam district and Bapatla in Guntur district are also under water, officials said. Bus stations, shops and even hospitals in the towns are under up to two feet of water. Road and rail transport was paralysed in several parts of south coastal Andhra Pradesh, especially the worst-hit Prakasam and Guntur districts. Mango, banana and other horticulture crops over thousands of acres in the coastal districts were damaged. Authorities have alerted people in 777 villages, likely to be hit by storm surge in sea waves in Guntur, Krishna, and West and East Godavari districts. Over 50,000 people have already been evacuated while thousands of others moved to safe places on their own. Over 500 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed with boats and other rescue equipment. Four helicopters have been kept ready for rescue while the state authorities have also sought help from the Indian Navy. An official statement said army authorities were contacted for deployment of helicopters for rescue and relief operations. The state government has also made a request for deployment of 100 army personnel in Krishna, West Godavari and East Godavari districts. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah told reporters in Hyderabad that nine helicopters were ready for rescue and relief works in the affected districts. "We have taken all preventive measures to minimise the loss of lives and property. The official machinery is prepared to deal with any eventuality," he said.
================================================

Laila creates havoc in coastal areas, leaves 3 dead,2 missing

Hyderabad, May 20 : The severe cyclonic storm 'Laila' claimed three lives in Nellore District, while two persons were reported missing in Krishna district even as the depression had created havoc with gale winds and uninterrupted rains uprooting heavy trees and affecting power supply at various places.

A report from Kakinada said one old man Tolum Peddapuram (65) was killed when an old-tiled shed collapsed owing to cyclonic rain in Thondangi village under Tuni police circle limits in East Godavari district.Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who held a review meeting with top officials on the latest situation, told mediapersons that Army officials had been alerted and nine helicopters were kept ready to take up rescue and relief operations.Claiming heavy damages to public properties and standing crops, he said the loss would be known only after the official estimation is done as the officials were busy in rescue and relief operations. The Chief Minister said he was in constant touch with the Collectors of Coastal districts and had authorised them to draw funds required for the rescue and relief works in their areas.Mr Rosaiah had also contacted the leaders of various political parties in the state and sought their cooperation, he said and added political parties had already asked their cadres to participate in the rescue and relief operations.The Chief Minister said power supply was affected in 1,492 villages and 11 towns. Transco officials were making efforts to restore power supply. One 220 KV sub-station, three 132 KV sub-stations and 193 33 KV sub-stations were affected in the coastal areas.Stating that he was in constant touch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P Chidambaram, he said they had assured all cooperation and support to tackle the situation arising out of the calamity.
============================================

Storm snaps coastal Andhra's mobile phone link

Hyderabad, May 20 : Heavy rains and strong gales due to the severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal snapped mobile phone communication in several parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh Thursday.Except state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the networks of all other mobile service providers were not working in the affected districts, adding to the anxiety among the people. People in other parts of the state and outside, who have their relative and friends in the coastal region, were worried after not being able to get through to their near and dear ones. Officials said heavy gales with speed reaching up to 75 km per hour uprooted cell phone towers and damaged other communication equipment, especially in Prakasam, Guntur, Nellore, Krishna, and East and West Godavari districts. As electricity supply to 11 towns and nearly 1,500 villages in the six districts was snapped, those having BSNL mobile phone connections also could not be reached after the batteries of their cell-phones ran out as they could not be recharged. Anticipating damage to landline and mobile communication, district authorities have arranged ham radio network and satellite phones for effective communication during rescue and relief works.
==============================================

Cyclone crosses Andhra coast near Bapatla

Hyderabad,May 20: The severe cyclonic storm Laila crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla in Guntur district Thursday afternoon.Officials said huge storm surges were seen in the Bay of Bengal when the cyclone hit the coast about 50 km from Bapatla town. Strong gales with a speed of 125 km per hour wrought havoc along and off the coast as Laila crossed the coast after changing its course repeatedly during the last three days. Storm surge of 1.5 to 2 metres inundated the villages along the coast. Details of the damages caused by the cyclone are awaited. According to Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, the cyclone would weaken after crossing the coast. However, it forecast heavy rains across coastal Andhra and parts of Rayalaseema and Telangana regions during the next 36 hours. Heavy rains and strong gales continued in the coastal region for the second consecutive day, paralysing normal life and badly affecting road and rail transport.
==============================================