Accused in Andhra girl's rape and murder escapes

Hyderabad, May 22 : In a dramatic escapade, the prime accused in the 2007 rape and murder of a teenager in Vijayawada gave police the slip while he was being transported back from a hospital here, police said Saturday.P. Satyam Babu escaped from police custody at Suryapet in Nalgonda district shortly after midnight Friday when the policemen escorting him got down at a hotel for food. Police were taking the 22-year-old to Vijayawada after treatment at a hospital here. Vijayawada Police Commissioner P.S.R. Anjaneyulu suspended 11 policemen escorting the accused for negligence. "I received the information at 6.30 a.m. that the accused has escaped. I immediately ordered suspension of the policemen for their negligence," he said. A sub-inspector, two head constables and eight constables were escorting Babu back to Vijayawada. However, there were hardly any takers for the police version. Relatives of the accused and human rights activists alleged that the police were trying to eliminate him in a staged shootout to shield the real culprits in the case. They pointed out that Babu can't even walk as he is suffering from a neurological disorder. Police claim that Babu raped and murdered 19-year-old pharmacy student Ayesha Miran at a hostel in Vijayawada on the night of Dec 27, 2007. Ayesha's murder had raised a huge public outcry and the police had failed to crack the case for several months. Her body with stab injuries was found in the bathroom. A letter dropped by the 'murderer' stated that the girl was raped and murdered for refusing his request for 'love'. Babu was arrested in August 2008. Police had earlier arrested two people but released them after the State Human Rights Commission intervened on petitions filed by their relatives. Interestingly, Ayesha's parents had also rejected the police claim that Babu murdered her and alleged that police were trying to save some politically influential people involved in the case. Earlier this month, Babu's mother P. Mariyamma had tried to launch a hunger strike in Hyderabad, alleging that police was implicating him in a false case and torturing him. It was on her petition that the high court had last month ordered the police to make arrangements for his treatment in Hyderabad.
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Relief work on in cyclone-hit coastal Andhra

Hyderabad, May 22 : Relief work was in full swing in the cyclone-hit areas of coastal Andhra Pradesh Saturday as water levels started receding and the rains became less intense.The threat for the coastal region was over Friday when Cyclone Laila weakened into a depression in the Bay of Bengal. However, the official machinery remained on alert as the weather office forecast rains in the region over the next 12 hours. Isolated rains were continuing in some parts of the coast. Officials of various departments Saturday launched relief operations, especially in the worst-hit Praksam district, where some parts of Ongole town and dozens of villages remained marooned. According to officials in disaster management department, 300 army personnel were shifting people from flooded areas and distributing food and water packets. NGOs like the Indian Red Cross and Unicef were also extending assistance in relief operations in Ongole. Over 70,000 people still remained in 300 relief camps. There have been complaints of lack of food, water and other basic amenities in some camps. As many as 111 stationary and 24 mobile medical teams were working in the affected areas to provide relief to victims and prevent epidemics. Heavy rains and gales over the past three days due to cyclonic storm Laila in Bay of Bengal left a trail of destruction in south coastal Andhra, killing 27 people and damaging infrastructure and crops over thousands of acres. According to preliminary reports, 172 houses were fully and 265 houses partly damaged. The cyclone has damaged agricultural crops over 11,351 hectares and horticulture crops over 7,949 hectares. The heavy rains and strong gales damaged roads and railway tracks and disrupted electricity and communication system. Over 100 trains have been cancelled during the last two days but railway authorities were confident of restoring the services by Saturday evening. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah will make an aerial survey of the cyclone-hit areas later in the day.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Heavy rains batter coastal Andhra as cyclone inches closer

Hyderabad, May 20 : Heavy rain battered Andhra Pradesh Thursday paralyzing transport and snapping power and communication links as cyclonic storm Laila showed signs of weakening before hitting the coast. The storm has claimed 14 lives so far.Incessant rain accompanied by strong gales wrought havoc in the six coastal districts where at least 11 towns and 1,500 villages plunged into darkness and communication was disrupted as strong winds uprooted electricity poles, transformers and communication towers.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 one 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. Weather officials forecast that the cyclonic storm may not cause severe damage when it crosses the coast close to Bapatla in south Andhra Pradesh by Thursday afternoon. "The system is showing signs of weakening due to increase of wind shear and land interaction," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said in its bulletin. The cyclonic storm lay centred at about 50 km east of Ongole, 50 km south of Bapatla and 70 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam. It is likely to move in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast about 50 km southwest of Machilipatnam later in the day. IMD has forecast widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy rain and isolated extremely heavy rainfall (25 cm or more) over the coastal areas of the state during the next 36 hours. Fierce winds with maximum speed reaching 100-110 km per hour are likely along and off the coast. The IMD has warned that storm surge of 1.5-2 metres above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate the coastal areas of Guntur, Krishna and West and East Godavari districts at the time of landfall. At least 14 people were killed in rain-related incidents like lightning strikes and wall collapses since Tuesday night. About 25 fishermen are also reported missing. 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 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 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.
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Cyclone Laila hits train services in coastal Andhra

Hyderabad,May 20: The severe cyclonic storm in the Bay of Bengal has badly hit train services in coastal Andhra Pradesh with as many as 31 passenger trains being cancelled and some others diverted.In view of heavy rains and gales in nine coastal districts, which are under the influence of cyclone Laila, the South Central Railway announced cancellation of 31 passenger trains Thursday and Friday. It was also decided to reduce the speed of other trains to 60 km per hour when the cyclone crosses the coast later in the day. Several trains are running four to six hours late due to incessant rains and gales. In Ongole town of Prakasam district, railway tracks were inundated, affecting train services. In Vijayawada railway division, all passenger trains were cancelled. Important trains which were cancelled include the Chennai-Howrah Coromandel Express, Krishna-Tirupati Puri Express, Rajahmundry-Visakhapatnam passenger train, Tirupati-Adilabad Krishna Express, and Tirupati-Bilaspur and Tirupati-Guduru passenger trains. The Howrah-Hyderabad East Coast Express was running five hours late, while the Chennai-Vijayawada Jan Shatabdi Express returned to Chennai from Nellore. Visakhapatnam-Guntur Simhadri Express and Howrah-Hyderabad special train were stopped in Tuni in East Godavari district due to heavy rains.
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Cyclone 'Laila' creates havoc in coastal AP

Hyderabad, May 20 : The severe cyclonic storm 'Laila', which lay centred near Machilipatnam in East Coast of Andhra Pradesh, created havoc in Coastal Andhra Pradesh with its gale winds and uninterrupted rains uprooting heavy trees and affecting power supply in various places.The cyclonic storm over West Central Bay of Bengal moved North Westwards and lay centered about 120 km South-South -East of Machilipatnam. It was likely to cross the coast by today afternoon.Due to impact of the cyclonic storm, standing crops of mango, paddy and banana in thousands of acres were submerged in rain water in several mandals of the coastal districts of the state.Reports reaching here said several mandals in Krishna, West and East Godavari, Prakasam, Nellore, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts plunged into darkness as electrical polls were damaged in these areas due to uprooting of trees. Authorities were busy in restoring the power supply. In some areas the authorities disconnected the power supply as a precautionery measure to avoid any dangerous situation.Thousands of people were evacuated from low lying areas to safer places where administration provided food, drinking water, milk, kerosene and medicines.
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Severe cyclone 'Laila' close to AP coast

Hyderabad,May 20: Armed forces were kept ready as the Andhra Pradesh Government braced itself to meet cyclone 'Laila', the severe cyclone which lays less than 100 km off Machilipatnam where it is expected to make a landfall later in the afternoon amid heavy rains accompanied by gusty winds in the bay lashing the coast of Andhra Pradesh since last night.Amid reports of six deaths in rain related incidents across the state, the government in a massive evacuation operations was using force, possibly for the first time, to shift the people to safer places from the remote islands in the Diviseema and Hope Island as rain battered the coastal area.Ongole and Nellore faced the brunt of more then to cm rain last night. However, they got some relief today as the cyclone moved away from the district coast, remaining stationery and moving north eastward later. Weathermen, contrary to popular speculation that 'Laila' had weakened, in fact upgraded its severe cyclone warning as nearly 600 personnel of the National Disaster Force with nearly 80 boats and concrete cutter equipment were stationed at various strategic coastal centres. Chief Minister K Rosaiah joined this morning Chief Secretary S V Prasad, who had stationed himself at the control room in the State Secretariat since last night to review the situation.With ministers sent to districts, senior IAS officials with previous experience in handling cyclone relief operations were positioned across the coastal belt. Train movement have been curtailed on advisory even as Naval helicopters have been positioned at Gannavaram Airport close to the expected landfall at Machilipatnam.
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Rescue teams deployed in Andhra to counter cyclone Laila

New Delhi,May 19: The central government has deployed personnel from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) along with search and rescue equipment as a precautionary measure to tackle possible damage from tropical cyclone Laila, which is likely to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast early Thursday and West Bengal by evening.A home ministry statement said the National Disaster Management Authority has ordered deployment of the disaster management personnel Tuesday itself and the deployment was completed by Wednesday evening. A total of 438 personnel along with 64 inflatable boats were deployed at various locations in six coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh -Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Machilipatnam,Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore. "NDMA deployed NDRF on receipt of cyclonic warning from India Meteorological Department around 5 a.m. Tuesday and subsequent fax message from commissioners and principal secretary, Disaster Management, government of Andhra Pradesh," said the release. According to an IMD official, Laila will move in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada,close to Machilipatnam Thursday morning.Widespread rainfall has been forecast over coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 36 hours and in north Tamil Nadu during the next 24 hours. As a precautionary measure to avoid damage from the cyclone, the Reliance Industries has also shut its crude oil and gas production plants from Krishna Godavari basin fields in the Bay of Bengal.
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Over 700 villages in Andhra may be hit by cyclone

Hyderabad,May 19: Over 700 villages in four coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh are likely to be affected by a severe cyclonic storm that is expected to hit the coast Thursday morning, officials said Wednesday.The districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur may bear the brunt of the cyclone Laila, which is likely to cross the coast between Nellore and Kakinada close to Machilipatnam. The government released a list of 777 villages which are vulnerable to storm surge as a result of the cyclone, which lay centred at 250 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam. "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 at the time of landfall," the India Meteorological Department said. As many as 338 vulnerable villages are in East Godavari district, where the port city of Kakinada is also likely to be affected, the government said. Krishna district has 233 vulnerable villages, Guntur 158 and West Godavari 48 villages. The port city of Machilipatnam is also likely to be hit hard. The authorities have started evacuating people from vulnerable villages and asked people to move to safer places on their own by Wednesday night. District collectors have been told to use police, where necessary, to move people.
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Andhra to forcibly evacuate people from coastal areas

Hyderabad May 19: Facing the spectre of cyclonic storm wreaking havoc in the coastal region, Andhra Pradesh government Wednesday asked the authorities to use force, if necessary, to evacuate people from areas near the coast and from low-lying villages.With barely 12 hours to go before severe cyclonic storm Laila hits its coast, the southern state is gearing up to face any eventuality. Teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have reached the coast while four helicopters have been kept ready for rescue and relief operations. Over 500 personnel of the NDRF with 79 boats have been rushed to Andhra from Orissa and Tamil Nadu, an official said. Nine senior officers were deputed to the nine coastal districts to monitor rescue and relief works, while ministers also rushed to the districts likely to be hit by the cyclone. The storm christened Laila lay centred at 320 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam. "The system is likely to intensify further and move in a northwesterly-to-northerly direction and cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Nellore and Kakinada, close to Machilipatnam by morning of May 20," said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The IMD has warned of heavy to very heavy rains of 25 cm and above and gales with wind speeds of 115-125 km per hour at the time of cyclone's 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," the weather office said. The IMD has suggested total suspension of fishing operation, moving coastal hutment dwellers to safer places and advised people in the coastal districts to remain indoors. Strong gales with speeds 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. 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. Over 50,000 people have already been evacuated in the coastal districts. People living near the sea shore and the low-lying areas have been asked to move to safe places by Wednesday night. "The government has asked the district collectors to use police, wherever necessary, to evacuate people from low-lying areas," Minister for Information and Public Relations J. Geeta Reddy told reporters. She said six teams of NDRF had reached the coastal region. A member of National Disaster Management Authority said in New Delhi that over 500 personnel of NDRF were rushed to Andhra from Orissa and Tamil Nadu with 79 boats. "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.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.
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Home Secretary Reviews Security at Airports

(PIB NEWS) The Union Home Secretary,Shri G.K.Pillai took a meeting here today to review various security issues concerning airports in the country. Steps relating to biometric access, construction of watch towers, raising of perimeter walls, provision of adequate security staff, installation of CCTV cameras, provision of dog squads and bomb disposal squads, etc. were discussed at the meeting. A time bound action plan was drawn up to enhance security at airports. The Civil Aviation Secretary, Director General of CISF and representatives from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and from Airports Authority of India attended the meeting.

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Public Sector Organisations Express Keenness to Participate in “Saakshar Bharat’

(PIB NEWS) Shri Kapil Sibal, Union Minister for Human Resource Development has called upon the PSUs and Public Sector Banks to set out a road map for participation in the ambitious Adult Education Programme “Saakshar Bharat”. He was speaking at an interactive meeting with Heads/Senior Executives of public sector undertakings and banks here today. During the meeting it was decided that the PSUs would give a white paper, to be coordinated by SCOPE to the HRD Ministry within three months, which will elaborate on how the PSUs will support “Saakshar Bharat”, skill development and vocational training. The Paper will focus on a nucleus of 10 to 12 PSUs, a base from which the partnership can take off, which will then be broadened to include more PSUs. The Public Sector Banks will likewise prepare a coordinated proposal for partnership with the HRD Ministry for adult education. This kind of meeting between Public Sector Organisations and a Ministry, for targeted Corporate Social Sector (CSR) efforts was the first of its kind, said Shri Bhaskar Chatterjee, Secretary, Department of Public Sector Enterprises. Also present were Smt. D. Purandeswari, MOS for HRD, Smt. Anshu Vaish, Secretary (School Education & Literacy), Shri Arup Roy Choudhury, Chairman, SCOPE & CMD NBCC and Dr. U.D. Choubey, DG, SCOPE. The Minister called upon the Public Sector Organizations to contribute in terms of their infrastructure, their talent and also financially; regarding which, they said they would give a road map in the next three months. The Minister indicated that as regards financial contribution, the organizations can incentivise monetarily good performing adult education workers who are otherwise doing voluntary work. He suggested that the organizations could use their infrastructure and skill set for training in skill development and vocational courses. He also said that physically, learning material, TVs etc. could be provided by the PSUs and Banks for adult education centres. The Minister underlined that all efforts towards literacy among the young and the non-literate older people could help India be 100 per cent literate by 2020.
On the part of the Public Sector Organisations, they stated that the areas they could help included using existing schools in their campuses which many times are in remote areas as adult education centres during non schools hours, involving spouses to volunteer for teaching especially in remote campuses, and also imparting skill development and vocational training. The banks expressed keenness in participating in adult education as this would support their own efforts for financial inclusion. It was also suggested that a policy can be framed for utilizing e-waste and old furniture through donating it to adult education centres in an organized manner. Saakshar Bharat was launched by the Prime Minister on 8th September, 2009 and has already been rolled out in 167 districts in 26 States. The principal focus of the Mission is on imparting functional literacy to women and other excluded groups like SCs, STs, Minorities etc. in the rural areas. The principal strategy of the department is to achieve universal female literacy in mass campaign mode in which educated adults are encouraged to act as volunteer teachers. (photo by PIB No:CNR 31668)
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Rain in coastal AP, Rayalaseema as Laila nears Visakhapatnam

Hyderabad,May 19: Rain occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema while isolated rain occurred over Telangana due to cyclonic storm Laila, which lay centered about 400 km south of Visakhapatnam.Amarapuram (Anantapur district) recorded 4cm of rainfall, satyavedu and Srikalahasti (both Chittoor districts) recorded 3 cm of rainfall each and Nellore, Tirupati and Bhimavaram (West Godavari districts), Kalyandurg and Penukonda (both Anantapur districts), Puttur (Chittoor district) and Rapur (Nellore district) recorded 2cm each, Met department said today.The maximum temperatures significantly fell at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and fell at one or two places over Telangana and Rayalaseema. They were above normal at a few places over Telangana and Rayalaseema and normal over Coastal Andhra Pradesh. The highest maximum temperature of 47 degrees Celsius was recorded at Adilabad.Moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers would occur at most places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and may occur over Telangana and Rayalaseema. Heavy to very heavy rain with isolated extremly heavy rain would occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated heavy to very heavy rain will occur over Telangana and Rayalaseema during next 48 hours.Spells of rain or thundershowers are likely in the city, with the maximum and minimum temperatures likely to hover around 35 and 22 degrees respectively.
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