Storm Laila Nearly 30,000 people were evacuated

Normal life has been badly affected in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godavari district

`Laila’.= heavy rains and strong winds caused by cyclone

eight persons were killed as heavy rains

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

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.

Air, train and bus services STOPPED

Kingfisher flight returned to the Andhra Pradesh capital without landing

Several air passengers have cancelled their tickets for the next two days, airline source

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.

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.

Nearly 30,000 people were evacuated from low-lying areas

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.