Cyclone Laila weakened into a “well marked low pressure area” over north coastal Andhra Pradesh on Friday, and can now trigger heavy rain in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam districts besides Khammam and Warangal in Telangana region.
The chief secretary, Mr S.V. Prasad, told this newspaper that Laila no longer posed any danger to the state. “The overall situation is under control,” he said.
However, the Indian Meteorological Department did not rule out the possibility of Laila remerging in the northern Bay of Bengal on May 24. The state government put the death toll relating to the cyclone at 23 including a family of four in Vijayawada who were killed after a wall fell on them. Heavy rains and winds also damaged 11,351 hectares of horticulture crops.
With the storm dissipating, most of the 71,000 people who had been evacuated by the government started moving back to their homes.
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, will undertake an aerial survey of cyclone-hit areas in Prakasam, Guntur and Krishna districts. He is also likely to hold review meetings with officials at Vijayawada’s Gannavaram airport.
Mr Rosaiah spoke with collectors of coastal districts on Friday and asked them to continue to stay on high alert and focus on relief and providing medical assistance in the affected areas.
He asked them to begin assessment of actual damage once the rains recede. “Except for horticulture the damage is very low and it is unlikely that the Centre will send teams to assess the damage,” a senior official said. The state is, meanwhile, preparing a report on the cyclone damage to get relief from the Centre.
Showing posts with label Cyclone Laila. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cyclone Laila. Show all posts
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Friday, May 21, 2010
State rides out Cyclone Laila
The state held its breath as the dreaded Cyclone Laila crossed the coast at Bapatla, about 270 km from Hyderabad, on Thursday afternoon without causing serious damage.
Six persons died in cyclone-related damage on Thursday, taking the toll to nine. The raging winds touched 125 kmph and uprooted telephone and power poles but did not spread huge devastation as feared.
Water bodies did not breach their banks, and the agriculture sector took the cyclone’s blow more or less calmly as much of the rabi crop had already been harvested. Indeed, the rains accompanying the cyclone could mean that farmers can start sowing operations early. It also served to recharge groundwater.
The cyclone weakened considerably as it approached the AP coast and crossed inland in the afternoon. At 9.30 pm, Laila still lay centred close to Bapatla. Meteorologists said that Laila was likely to weaken gradually and move to the north and then curve to the northeast and head towards Orissa. The cyclone is still expected to carry gusty winds and rain that could reach from Telangana to the west to Bengal.
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, told mediapersons at the Secretariat that such phenomena were “tests” of nature. “I am trying to overcome these tests with sheer commitment,” he said, and asked officials to be alert for another 24 hours till the cyclone passed. “We have taken all preventive measures to minimise the loss of lives and property,” said the Chief Minister. “The official machinery is prepared to deal with any eventuality.”
The revenue minister, Mr D Prasada Rao, however, said the danger from cyclone still loomed. The cyclone damaged crop in 4,000 hectares wrecked 300 meters of R&B road in Nellore district. Further, 35 houses have been destroyed and 95 partly damaged.
The government evacuated 51,000 people from harm’s way and housed them in 255 relief camps where they were provided 1,01,486 food packets and 2.75 lakh water sachets. Around 300 Army personnel have been in East and West Godavari and Krishna districts, while the Indian Air Force kept four helicopters on cyclone duty. Ten AN-32s and an IL-76 cargo aircraft have been kept on standby.
All 12 units of the National Disaster Relief Federation were being re-deployed in Prakasam district along with 80 boats. With electricity and communication systems disrupted in Prakasam district after heavy gales dislodged cell towers, officials were using BSNL landlines and satellite phones for rescue work.
Six persons died in cyclone-related damage on Thursday, taking the toll to nine. The raging winds touched 125 kmph and uprooted telephone and power poles but did not spread huge devastation as feared.
Water bodies did not breach their banks, and the agriculture sector took the cyclone’s blow more or less calmly as much of the rabi crop had already been harvested. Indeed, the rains accompanying the cyclone could mean that farmers can start sowing operations early. It also served to recharge groundwater.
The cyclone weakened considerably as it approached the AP coast and crossed inland in the afternoon. At 9.30 pm, Laila still lay centred close to Bapatla. Meteorologists said that Laila was likely to weaken gradually and move to the north and then curve to the northeast and head towards Orissa. The cyclone is still expected to carry gusty winds and rain that could reach from Telangana to the west to Bengal.
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, told mediapersons at the Secretariat that such phenomena were “tests” of nature. “I am trying to overcome these tests with sheer commitment,” he said, and asked officials to be alert for another 24 hours till the cyclone passed. “We have taken all preventive measures to minimise the loss of lives and property,” said the Chief Minister. “The official machinery is prepared to deal with any eventuality.”
The revenue minister, Mr D Prasada Rao, however, said the danger from cyclone still loomed. The cyclone damaged crop in 4,000 hectares wrecked 300 meters of R&B road in Nellore district. Further, 35 houses have been destroyed and 95 partly damaged.
The government evacuated 51,000 people from harm’s way and housed them in 255 relief camps where they were provided 1,01,486 food packets and 2.75 lakh water sachets. Around 300 Army personnel have been in East and West Godavari and Krishna districts, while the Indian Air Force kept four helicopters on cyclone duty. Ten AN-32s and an IL-76 cargo aircraft have been kept on standby.
All 12 units of the National Disaster Relief Federation were being re-deployed in Prakasam district along with 80 boats. With electricity and communication systems disrupted in Prakasam district after heavy gales dislodged cell towers, officials were using BSNL landlines and satellite phones for rescue work.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Normal life in East Godavari district hit due to cyclone
Normal life has been badly affected in Andhra Pradesh’s East Godvari district due to heavy rains and strong winds caused by cyclone `Laila’
The air, train and bus services were thrown out of gear in the district. A Rajahmundry-Hyderabad Kingfisher flight returned to Andhra Pradesh capital without landing here today in view of inclement weather conditions, officials said.
Several air passengers have cancelled their tickets for the next two days, airline sources said.
A number of 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.
The coastal district experienced heavy rains last evening, but there was some relief as downpour stopped this morning. Several areas were plunged into darkness and communication systems snapped.
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.
The government has appointed a Special Officer, J S V Prasad, to coordinate with the district administration in relief and rescue operations.
The air, train and bus services were thrown out of gear in the district. A Rajahmundry-Hyderabad Kingfisher flight returned to Andhra Pradesh capital without landing here today in view of inclement weather conditions, officials said.
Several air passengers have cancelled their tickets for the next two days, airline sources said.
A number of 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.
The coastal district experienced heavy rains last evening, but there was some relief as downpour stopped this morning. Several areas were plunged into darkness and communication systems snapped.
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.
The government has appointed a Special Officer, J S V Prasad, to coordinate with the district administration in relief and rescue operations.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Vizag, Ongole in the eye of Cyclone Laila
The state is bracing itself to face Cyclone Laila which had intensified and was rumbling 500 km south of Vishakhapatnam and 350 km away from Chennai over the Bay of Bengal on Tuesday night.
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has ordered the official machinery to be on full alert even as the Indian Meteorological Department forecast that the cyclonic system was likely to intensify further and move in a west-north westerly direction and cross the coast between Ongole and Vizag in the early hours of May 20. Heavy showers and strong winds started lashing the coast of Vishakapatnam at 9.25 pm and many portions of the city plunged into darkness with power lines going bust.
The cyclone warning centre alerted that the showers could continue and intensify in the coming hours. The CWC bulletin said that Vizag, Kakinada and Nizampatnam have been placed under the Danger-7 category (where the severity of the storm is very high) while Krishnapatnam has been placed under the Danger-5 category.
The bulletin also warned that the wind speeds could touch 125 km per hour and asked fishermen not to venture out to sea.
“We are monitoring the situation closely,” said Mr T. Radha, commissioner of disaster management. “Evacuation of people in the low lying areas will begin in the early hours of May 19. Army and National Disaster Management teams are coming to help local authorities.”
Anticipating a severe battering, the government has already evacuated people from 40 villages in Nellore district to safer places.
The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has ordered the official machinery to be on full alert even as the Indian Meteorological Department forecast that the cyclonic system was likely to intensify further and move in a west-north westerly direction and cross the coast between Ongole and Vizag in the early hours of May 20. Heavy showers and strong winds started lashing the coast of Vishakapatnam at 9.25 pm and many portions of the city plunged into darkness with power lines going bust.
The cyclone warning centre alerted that the showers could continue and intensify in the coming hours. The CWC bulletin said that Vizag, Kakinada and Nizampatnam have been placed under the Danger-7 category (where the severity of the storm is very high) while Krishnapatnam has been placed under the Danger-5 category.
The bulletin also warned that the wind speeds could touch 125 km per hour and asked fishermen not to venture out to sea.
“We are monitoring the situation closely,” said Mr T. Radha, commissioner of disaster management. “Evacuation of people in the low lying areas will begin in the early hours of May 19. Army and National Disaster Management teams are coming to help local authorities.”
Anticipating a severe battering, the government has already evacuated people from 40 villages in Nellore district to safer places.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Cyclone Laila moves further; to cross AP coast by Thursday
Heavy rains are likely to lash coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu during the next two days as cyclone ‘Laila’ which further intensified and lay centred in the Bay of Bengal around 400 km east of Chennai, is expected to cross the Andhra coast on Thursday.
“Latest satellite images and radar observation indicates that cyclonic storm ‘Laila’ lies centred at about 400 km east of Chennai. This system is likely to intensify further and move in a west north-westerly direction and cross the Andhra coast between Ongole and Vishakapatnam in the early hours of Thursday,” Met officials here told PTI.
They said scattered heavy and isolated very heavy rains would occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated heavy rain may also occur over North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from tonight.
According to them, strong wind with speeds reaching 65-75 kmph was likely to commence along Andhra Coast from tonight.
Squally weather with wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph may begin along north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast from tonight.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea as strong surface winds from South-westerly to Westerly direction with speeds reaching 45-55 kmph were likely off the Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast.
“Latest satellite images and radar observation indicates that cyclonic storm ‘Laila’ lies centred at about 400 km east of Chennai. This system is likely to intensify further and move in a west north-westerly direction and cross the Andhra coast between Ongole and Vishakapatnam in the early hours of Thursday,” Met officials here told PTI.
They said scattered heavy and isolated very heavy rains would occur over coastal Andhra Pradesh and isolated heavy rain may also occur over North Coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry from tonight.
According to them, strong wind with speeds reaching 65-75 kmph was likely to commence along Andhra Coast from tonight.
Squally weather with wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph may begin along north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast from tonight.
Fishermen have been warned not to venture into the sea as strong surface winds from South-westerly to Westerly direction with speeds reaching 45-55 kmph were likely off the Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coast.
