Heavy rains lash coastal Andhra as cyclone nears the shore

Hyderabad,May 19: Heavy rains with strong gales lashed coastal Andhra region as authorities began evacuation of people from low-lying areas with cyclonic storm Laila intensifying further and heading towards the sea shore.A high alert has been sounded in all nine coastal districts while rescue teams from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have reached the areas likely to face the fury of the cyclonic storm. The storm christened Laila is likely to cross the Andhra coast Thursday morning between Visakhapatnam and Ongole, said Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre. Strong gales with speed of 65 to 70 km per hour have been lashing the region since Tuesday night, uprooting trees and damaging electricity and communication towers in some districts, officials said. Districts of Vijayanagaram, Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur are receiving heavy rains since Wednesday morning. Some places received five to 10 cm rainfall. Nellore, Prakasam, and some parts of Rayalaseema and Telangana regions are also experiencing rains in the build-up to the cyclone in the Bay of Bengal. At least 10 people were killed in rain-related incidents like lightning strikes and wall collapses since Tuesday night. Four farmers were also reported missing. Authorities began evacuating people from low-lying areas in all nine districts as a precautionary measure as the weather office forecast heavy to very heavy rains during the next 48 hours. The rainfall is expected to be as much as 25 cm while the gale-speed is likely to be 115-125 kmph at the time of the landfall. "Storm surge of 1.5 to 2 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate the coastal areas of Guntur, Krishna and West and East Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall," warned the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in its bulletin. Over 10,000 people have already been evacuated in Visakhapatnam,West Godavari and Krishna districts. People living near the sea shore and the low-lying areas have been asked to move to safe places by Wednesday night. In Krishna district alone, authorities have opened 120 relief camps. In West Godavari district, 100 buses of state-owned Road Transport Corporation have been kept ready for evacuation of people. After a review of the situation here, Chief Minister K. Rosaiah asked his cabinet colleagues to rush to the coastal districts to oversee relief and rehabilitation. "The impact of the cyclone on coastal Andhra is likely to be severe and there is an urgent need for everybody to be on high alert," said Marri Shashidhar Reddy, member, National Disaster Management Authority. The chief minister has asked district collectors to use helicopters, if necessary, for rescue and relief operations. Seventh warning signal was hoisted at Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Bhimunipatnam, Kalingapatnam, Nizampatnam and Vodarevu ports while fifth signal was raised at Krishnapatnam port. Andhra Pradesh has about 1,000-km-long coast line, which is vulnerable to cyclones, storms and low pressure areas over the Bay of Bengal during September-October every year. Officials said this was the first time in 20 years that the coastal region is facing a cyclonic storm during May.
===============================================

Laila intensifies, lay centred about 400 km south of Visag

Visakhapatnam,May 19: The cyclonic storm 'Laila' over west central and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal has intensified and lay centered about 400 km south of Visakhapatnam. According to CWC spokesman here today, the system moving in a north westerly direction would cross between Ongole and Visakhapatnam in the early hours of tomorrow.Under its influence, coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh were experiencing heavy to very heavy rains since this morning. Strong gale winds with a speed reaching 75 to 85 kmph were likely along and off Andhra Pradesh coast. The sea condition would be rough to very rough along and off Andhra coast, the spokesman said.Fishermen were advised not to venture into the sea. Local danger signal nos 3 and 5 were hoisted in all ports of the state.
=================================================

State official machinery gears up to tackle cyclone

Hyderabad,May 19: The entire official machinery of Andhra Pradesh has geared up to meet any eventuality in the wake of cyclonic storm 'Laila,' even as the depression over the Bay of Bengal moved closer to the coastal Andhra Pradesh.Chief Minister K Rosaiah, chairing a high-level review meeting today on the situation and the measures to be taken to meet the cyclone asked the officials to monitor the situation round-the-clock. Directing the officials to be alert and take all precautionery measures to save property and lives, Mr Rosaiah said the government would take further measures at a Cabinet meeting today.The State government had asked the Collectors of the coastal districts to advice the fishermen not to venture into the sea during the depression period.The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that cyclone storm 'Laila' would cross the coast between Ongole and Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh by tomorrow. In a bulletin last night the IMD said very heavy rain accompanied by gusty winds of speed reaching 65 to 75 kmph would occur in the coastal regions.As heavy rain and strong winds lashed Andhra Pradesh, officials in coastal areas were put on high alert to prevent people from visiting the sea coast.Meanwhile, four fishermen of Thummalapenta coast in Kavali mandal of Nellore district, who ventured into the sea were reportedly missing.
================================================

Missing AP fishermen return safely

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh,May 19: Eight fishermen of Subbampet village, a hamlet of Uppada in Kothapalli mandal, 16 km from here, who were reported missing in the sea off Bhiravapalem while fishing in their country boat, returned safely late last night.They ventured into the sea for fishing on May 16 and were to return by Tuesday afternoon but due to rough weather the fishermen could not return as scheduled. As family members of the fishermen could not gain access to them through cell phones, they get worried about their safety.They met Tahasildar and fisheries department officials and sought assistance to trace them. District Collector M Ravichandra, who visited coastal areas to study the situation in the event of cyclone threat last night, called on the fishermen family members and assured THEM of all help in ensuring safe return of their men folk.
=================================================

Andhra Pradesh faces threat of cyclone Laila

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), May 19 : Andhra Pradesh is facing the threat of the cyclonic storm Laila, as a low-pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify.The current environmental conditions and Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) models suggest that the cyclonic storm Laila, is likely to intensify further and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Thursday."Bay of Bengal got in to a cyclonic storm and now it is lay centred at 5.30 hours evening at about 520 kilometers south... It is likely to intensify further and move in a west-northwesterly area direction, and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Ongole and Visakhapatnam," said V. L. P. Prasad, Director of Cyclone Warning Centre, Visakhapatnam.Under its influence, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are likely to experience widespread heavy to very heavy rainfall (of 25 cm or more) and extremely heavy isolated rain during the next 48-hours.It has been forecast that gale force winds of 65-75 kilometer per hour may increase to 115-125 kilometer per hour in Andhra Pradesh.Squally winds reaching 50-60 kilometer per hour are also likely to blow along and off the coast of north Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours.Waves are expected to be very high along and off the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu coastlines.Fishermen have been advised to not venture into the sea off these coasts.
=================================================

Cyclone threat; Control rooms opened in Krishna district

Vijayawada,May 19: With the cyclonic storm 'Laila' over southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal likely to cross between Ongole and Visakhapatnam by tomorrow afternoon, control rooms have been set up at Krishna District Collectorate in Machilipatnam and in the sub-collector's office here to enable people to contact in the event of exigency.Official sources told UNI here today that control rooms have also been set up at Revenue Divisional offices and Tahsildar offices across the district following an alert from the meteorological department.People could contact the control room phone nos 08672-252399 and 252486, mobile nos: 09908664635 and 9849903982 at Machilipatnam and at the sub-collector office in Vijayawada--0866-2574454 and 2576217.The sources said two battalions of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had reached the district where some of them would be stationed in the city to rescue people, if necessary.Warning signal seven was hoisted at Machilipatnam port yesterday. The Indian Metrological Department (IMD) bulletin said strong winds with a speed of 70 km to 80 kmph was likely along the coast in the district for the next 72 hours and the height of tidal waves was likely to be 1.5 metres.
=================================================

Mecca Masjid blast third anniversary passes off

Hyderabad, May 18 : The thirdanniversary of the bomb blast at historic Mecca Masjid here passed off peacefully amid tight security.No untoward incident was reported from any part of the city, police said. The afternoon and evening prayers at the 17th century mosque passed off peacefully as police made elaborate security arrangements. A tight vigil was maintained across the old city after unidentified gunmen killed a policeman last Friday. The motorcycle borne suspected terrorists shot dead the police constable at Shahali Banda, about a km from Mecca Masjid. One policeman was gunned down in a similar fashion by unidentified persons on this day last year. Police suspect involvement of suspected terrorists, who have allegedly vowed revenge for the police firing after the blast three years ago. Nine people were killed in the blast during Friday prayers at the mosque May 18, 2007. Five more persons were killed in the subsequent police firing on protestors outside the mosque. Police are yet to achieve a breakthrough in the blast case. Initially the Bangladesh-based Harkatul Jihad-e-Islami (Huji) was blamed for the attack and some suspects were also picked up. Though the investigations were handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the case has not been cracked even after three year. The government said the case has turned 'cold' as the two primary suspects were killed in an alleged shootout in Pakistan. The case, however, took a new turn early this month with the CBI questioning the members of some Hindu extremist outfits allegedly involved in Ajmer Dargah blast for their role in Mecca Masjid case. Various organisations have demanded fresh probe into the case in view of the revelations. The Bhaskar Rao Commission formed by the Andhra Pradesh government to probe police firing has also not submitted its report even after three years.

================================================

Andhra calls in rescue teams as cyclone threat grows

Hyderabad, May 18: The administration in Andhra Pradesh's coastal region Tuesday went on high alert and National Disaster Response Force was called in for rescue operations as the cyclonic storm Laila intensified and is likely to cross the coast between Visakhapatnam and Ongole early Thursday.Second warning signals have been hoisted at all Andhra ports as the depression over the Bay of Bengal turned into a cyclonic storm and lay centred 550 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam. It is likely to cross the coast between Ongole and Visakhapatnam by early hours of May 20. "Under the influence of this system, north coastal Tamil Nadu and coastal Andhra Pradesh are likely to experience widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls (25 cms or more) and isolated extremely heavy falls during next 48 hours," said a bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Strong gales with speed reaching 65-75 km an hour are likely to commence along and off Andhra Pradesh coast Tuesday night. It may increase to 115-125 kmph at the time of landfall early Wednesday mroning. Since the sea condition will also be rough, the fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. The state government has called in the National Disaster Response Force from Tamil Nadu and Bhubaneshwar for rescue operations. The force from Bhubaneshwar will be stationed at Visakhapatnam to look after the rescue operations in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari, said a statement from the Chief Minister's Office. The personnel from Arakonam, Tamil Nadu, will be stationed at Vijayawada to look after the rescue operations in the districts of West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore. The official machinery in all the nine coastal districts has been asked to be on high alert. Leave of employees has been cancelled till May 25. Those on leave have been asked to report back immediately. Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Dharmana Prasada Rao told reporters here that the leave of employees, especially in departments like disaster management, revenue, police, fire services, electricity, roads and buildings and Panchayat Raj, has been cancelled. Chief Minister K.Rosaiah directed the district collectors to take all preventive measures to minimise the loss of life and property. He asked them to be ready for evacuating to safer places the people likely to be affected. A sub-committee of top officials will be formed immediately for round-the-clock monitoring of the situation. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs has also issued cyclonic storm advisory, asking the state government to keep a close watch and take appropriate precautionary measures. Following the advisory, control rooms have been opened at the state secretariat and at all district headquarters. The chief minister asked the officials to be ready with alternative steps for effective communication in case there is damage to communication network.
================================================

CM alerts official machinery on 'Laila'

Hydeabad, May 18: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today alerted the entire official machinery view in of the deep depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and adjoining areas moving westwards and intensifying into a cyclonic storm ''Laila''.The Chief Minister reviewed the latest situation with Ministers and officials here and asked the Collectors of the Coastal Districts to advise the fishermen not to venture into sea during this period.The government would take further measures at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow, he said and asked the officials to monitor the situation round-the-clock. He directed them to be very alert during the days and take all precautionary measures to prevent loss to life and property of the people.
================================================

Minister stresses media's role in development of society

Hyderabad, May 18: Andhra Pradesh Minister for Information and Public Relations J Geetha Reddy today said the media should play a key role in the development of the society and work as a link between the government and the people.Releasing the handbook on the activities and programmes being taken up by the Andhra Pradesh Press Academy (APPA) here, she said journalists should contribute their might through their writings to create awareness among the people, particularly people in rural areas, about the developmental and welfare schemes of the government.There was no point in taking up welfare schemes if it did not reach the targetted people. Media should play a key role in this regard by educating the people about the schemes, she added. APPA Chairman T. Surender said the Academy would launch several activities for the benefit of journalists and media in the state. He said the academy proposed to help media to create a self-regulatory mechanism to follow ethics and improve the quality of media. Apart from the existing activities of the academy, it was decided to develop an online knowledge centre by making the existing website more meaningful. The academy decided to supply regular useful material to all the mediapersons, particularly journalists in rural and remote areas, he said.
================================================

Andhra on high alert as cyclonic storm intensifies

Hyderabad, May 18: The administration in Andhra Pradesh's coastal region Tuesday went on high alert as the cyclonic storm Laila intensified and is likely to cross the coast near Machilipatnam.Second warning signals have been hoisted at all Andhra ports as the depression over Bay of Bengal turned into a cyclonic storm and lay centred at 690 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. It is likely to cross the coast near the port city of Machilipatnam in Krishna district, about 450 km from here, in about 72 hours. Since the coastal region will experience the impact of the storm from Tuesday night, authorities have sounded a high alert. According to the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, strong gales with speeds reaching 65 to 75 km per hour are likely to commence along and off the Andhra coast from Tuesday. The wind speed may further increase as the system moves closer to the coast. Since the sea condition will also be rough, the fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rain in coastal Andhra from May 19. The impact of the cyclonic storm may continue till May 25. "The system is likely to intensify further and move in a west-northwesterly direction for some more time and then move in a northwesterly to northerly direction during the next 72 hours towards the Andhra Pradesh coast close to Machilipatnam," an IMD bulletin said. The official machinery in all the nine coastal districts has been asked to be on high alert. Leave of employees have been cancelled till May 25. Those on leave have been asked to report back immediately. Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation D. Prasada Rao told reporters here that the leave of employees especially in departments like disaster management, revenue, police, fire services, electricity, roads and buildings and Panchayat Raj have been cancelled. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah directed the district collectors to take all preventive measures to minimize the loss of life and property. Since there is still sufficient time before the cyclone crosses the coast, the collectors were told to take measures to save life and property, he said. The strong winds could topple walls and electricity and communication towers.
===============================================

ACB unerathed Rupees 90 lakhs alleged disproportionate assests in AP

Visakhapatnam, May 18: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) unearthed alleged Disproportionate assets worth over Rs 90 lakh allegedly belonging to a Traffic Police Inspector in the Port city.Simultaneous searches were conducted yesterday by the ACB officials at the residences of Rajasekhar, a Police Inspector with traffic branch, at Visakhapatnam, Rajahmundry and Amalapuram.The searches yielded assets worth over Rs 90 lakh, an ACB release said yesterday.Which included six house plots, two houses, a flat, household articles worth Rs 2 Lakh and Rs 39,000 in cash, it said, adding further investigation was still going on.
================================================

Andhra coast faces cyclone threat, alert sounded

Hyderabad, May 17: Andhra Pradesh faces a cyclone threat as a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify and hit the coast, weather officials said Monday.Authorities in coastal Andhra have sounded an alert and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. The weather office has forecast widespread rains over coastal Andhra with strong winds of 45 to 55 km per hour. According to the bulletin issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), a depression formed over the Bay of Bengal lay centered about 1,000 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. The system is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm and move initially in a northwesterly direction towards the state's coast. Under the influence of this system, coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh are likely to experience widespread rainfall from May 19. Heavy to very heavy rains are likely at some places. Following the warning by weather office, authorities in all nine coastal districts sounded an alert along the coast. Senior officials here reviewed the situation with district collectors and directed them to be prepared for any eventuality. The forecast of heavy rains and cyclone has come at a time when the severe heat wave conditions continue across the state. The heat wave claimed 20 lives Monday, taking the total deaths to 65 since Friday.
=================================================

Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad meets with the Health Secretary of USA in Geneva

(PIB NEWS) May.17,Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, had a meeting with the Health Secretary of USA - Mrs. Kathleen Sebelius at Geneva. Both the Ministers appreciated that India andUS are strategic partners in several areas including health. Shri Azad thanked the US department of Agriculture for organizing food safety training every year at the Michigan State University for the personnel of Food Safety Standard Authority of India. He also recalled that the US food and Drug Administration has opened their office in Delhi which facilitates exchange of Information. Both the Ministers discussed the latest position of Memorandum of Understanding regarding setting up of the Global Disease Detection Regional Centre (GDD) at New Delhi. ================================================

Six civilians, two Maoists killed in Chhattisgarh violence

Maoist guerrillas Sunday slit the throatsof six civilians, including a village head,in Chhattisgarh’s Rajnandgaon district,while two rebels were killed in a gunfight with the police in Dantewada district, officials said.The bodies of the six people were found dumped in a forested area of Manpur locality in Uchapur village in Rajnandgaon, about 175 km from here, by villagers in the morning, Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan said.The victims included a village sarpanch (head), Bhilsai Mandwai (36), who was abducted early this week along with five others by armed Maoists on charges of spying for the police. All the bodies were found with their throats slit.The latest terrorist act of the Maoists targeting civilians has created panic among the residents of Rajnandgaon that borders Maharashtra’s Gadchiroli district. Police and paramilitary forces deployed in the district for anti-Maoist operations were yet to reach the site in a thickly forested pocket between Uchapur-Taregaon locality as they suspect that guerrillas might be waiting with a booby trap to ambush security personnel.“We are being cautious while trying to reach the site, which is close to the border with Maharashtra. Maoists had lured a police convoy to a booby trap in the same area July last year in which 29 policemen, including district superintendent of police B.K. Choubey, were killed,” a senior police official here said.In a separate incident, police killed two guerrillas in a gunfight in Dantewada’s Kirandul area, said District Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra.Police recovered two 12-bore guns, a few tiffin bombs and posters against public sector National Minerals Development Corporation (NMDC) Ltd, which has massive iron ore mining facilities at Bailadila hills of Kirandul and Bacheli areas.Chhattisgarh has witnessed a spurt in Maoist violence in recent months with the rebels carrying out the biggest ever attack April 6 in Dantewada district when guerrillas massacred 76 security personnel. This was followed by another attack May 8 in Bijapur district in which eight Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers were killed when their vehicle was blown up by the rebels. =================================================

Serial killer found murdered in Andhra

Hyderabad, May 16: A convicted serial killer was found murdered in Andhra Pradesh's Krishna district only a few days after he escaped from jail, police said Sunday.The body of Tatiparthi Rama Rao, convicted for seven murders, was found near Agiripalli police station Saturday night. The body was identified by Rama Rao's sister Nagamani Sunday. Police suspect that the local people might have hacked Rama Rao to death. They were questioning a villager Chalapati Rao, who had caught and handed over Rama Rao to police five years ago. After he escaped from a jail last month, Rama Rao had reportedly been threatening Chalapati. The criminal, a native of Krishna district, escaped from a jail in Srikakulam district April 9 and since then police had been on the lookout for him. The 35-year-old criminal, involved in killing of seven people at Rudrakshapalli village in Khammam district in 2005, had earlier escaped from jail thrice. Rama Rao, a life convict also involved in several cases of rape, loot and theft, had escaped from Nuzvid jail in Krishna district in 2007 along with co-accused Gunja Yesobu. He was re-arrested by police in Srikakulam district Oct 4 last year. Last month, he again escaped from Pedapadu sub-jail in Srikakulam district by scaling the 21-foot high wall. Police said Rama Rao was a terror in villages bordering Khammam and Krishna districts. He along with a few associates had killed seven people, including a woman, after chasing them in Rudrakshapalli village in 2005 to take revenge for the murder of his brother.
=============================================

Three killed in Hyderabad chemical factory fire

Hyderabad, May 16: At least three people were killed and five injured Sunday in a massive fire at a chemical factory on the outskirts of Hyderabad, officials said.The fire broke out in Durga Enterprises, a factory in Jedimetla industrial area, following a blast in one of the chemical reactors. Police and witnesses said 16 workers were in the plant when the accident took place. Three workers were burnt to death and the condition of three of the injured was critical. Eight people managed to escape the mishap. Fire-fighting personnel with seven fire engines fought for two hours to control the fire. A series of blasts in reactors and the presence of chemicals like sodium sulphate and potassium sulphate made their task difficult. Officials from the industries department, after a visit to the site, said the chemical factory had no licence. A police officer told reporters that two officials of the company were taken into custody. The owner of the company is not in town, the official said.
================================================

Andhra Pradesh Governor visits Simhachalam Temple

Visakhapatnam, May 16: Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan with his family members today visited Simhachalam Temple and performed special pujas to the presiding deity Lord Varaha Lakshmi Nrusimha Swamy.On the occasion of annual Chandanotsavam, lakhs of devotees from across the state and the neighbouring states of Orissa and Chhattisgrah thronged the temple and had 'darshan' of the deity.TTD and Endowments Officials presented silk clothes to the deity on behalf of state government on the occasion of Chandanotsavam.Hereditary Trustee of the temple and former Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju offered first puja in the temple.
================================================

YSR Memorial Trust asks submission of 'Logo' design:KVP

Hyderabad, May 15: Chairman of the Dr Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy Memorial Trust and Rajya Sabha Member KVP Ramachandra Rao today called for entries from artists, graphic designers and advertisement agencies to design a 'Logo' for the trust.In a statement, Mr Rao said the trust would conduct several social services as per the aspirations of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in whose name the trust was formed.The entries should reflect YSR's aims and aspirations on welfare of the people and developmental activities undertaken by him during his tenure.He said a sum of Rs one lakh would be given for the selected design.The last date for the entries is May 31.
===============================================

Andhra Pradesh Governor, CM, oppn leaders condole Shekhawat's demise

Hyderabad, May 15 : Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimham Chief Minister K Rosaiah and opposition leaders, including Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu, BJP state-unit President G Kishen Reddy and President as Lok Satta Party today condoled the death of former vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.In a message, the Governor said ''I am shocked and grieved at the passing away of former Vice-President, which was visionary and a vibrant public spirited leader''.''Mr Shekhawat had the rare distinction as Chief Minister of Rajasthan state for three times and his 6 decade-political career in the service of nation will be long remembered'', he said.The Chief Minister, in his message, said in the passing away of Shekhawat, the nation has lost a veteran leader, parliamentarian and senior politician.TDP President Chandrababu Naidu, while expressing his grief over the death of former Vice-President, said Shekhawat was a highly respected politician in the country.State BJP President Kishen Reddy expressed shock about the death of Shekhawat.Lok Satta Party also expressed profound grief over the death of Mr Shekawat who was a self-made leader.
=================================================