Seven persons were killed as cyclone Laila today struck Andhra Pradesh coast, inundating large areas, snapping electricity and communication links and disrupting traffic.
Three persons were killed in Sri Potti Sriramulu Nellore district, two in East Godavari and one each in Krishna and Vizianagaram districts, according to the state Disaster Management authorities, adding two persons were missing in Krishna district.
As the cyclone made landfall near Baptla in Guntur this evening, heavy downpour was witnessed in the district and in Prakasam with the latter suffering maximum damage.
Ongole town, the headquarters of Prakasam district, remained waterlogged as it received 34 cm rainfall in 12 hours since last night.
The government directed the National Disaster Response Force teams to rush to Ongole to step up rescue and relief operations. However, official sources here said that Air Force helicopters could not take part in rescue operations because of the inclement weather.
Communication links were cut off while road transport was also badly affected in the district. Many rivulets and streams in the district were overflowing hampering traffic movement.
As electricity lines and transformers were damaged in the cyclonic storm, hundreds of villages were plunged into darkness besides 11 towns.
More than 150 head of cattle died in rain-related incidents in coastal districts. Harvested paddy in Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts was damaged badly leaving farmers distraught.
Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and West Godavari districts reported scattered rainfall, moderate rain was witnessed in East Godavari, Krishna and Nellore.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah reviewed the situation with ministers and officials this evening and directed the authorities not to lower guard till the cyclone warning has been fully withdrawn.
The movement of 51 trains was affected with South Central Railway (SCR) cancelling two of them. Others were either diverted or stopped enroute, officials said.
Even after landfall, coastal Andhra Pradesh is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rains for the next 12 hours, according to the Met department.
