A day after Laila - the cyclonic storm crossed the Andhra coast on Thursday, the government has shifted its focus to relief and rehabilitation. While 23 people have died, three others are missing in coastal districts of the state. As many as 71,000 people continued to be in 300 relief camps in six districts.
The storm was heading towards Orissa this morning from Vizianagaram in north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who planned an aerial survey in Prakasam district, put off his trip due to bad weather. The weather bulletin forecast heavy rainfall in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions during the next 12 hours.
Rosaiah, who held a teleconference with officials in coastal districts, directed them to continue the vigil for a few more days to ensure relief for rain-hit districts. He directed the medical and health department to take steps to prevent outbreak of diseases in the cyclone-hit areas.
Officials said railway tracks and bridges between Vijayawada and Chennai that had been damaged in the last two days were repaired and train services restored. According to disaster management department, crops in 5,800 hectares and 6,060 hectares under horticulture suffered extensive damage.
The estimates of the loss would be taken up in a couple of days. Fishermen lost over 250 boats and close to 3,000 fishing nets and about 1,500 other boats were damaged.