Cyclone Laila leaves trail of destruction in AP

Threat of any further destruction by Laila in coastal Andhra Pradesh dissipated on Friday as the cyclonic storm gradually weakened into severe depression and  then into depression over coastal Andhra Pradesh. According to the latest press release of Indian Meteorological Department, it lay centered about 100 km west of Kakinada.
 
Prasad Rao, director of Cyclone Warning Center, Visakhapatanam, has said that threat to coastal Andhra was over as the system moving in north-north easterly direction. "It was likely to weaken further in to a low pressure", he said.
 
Prasad Rao said that there was no major threat to Orissa and West Bengal even if the system re-enters the Bay of Bengal.
IMD bulletin said under the influence of the system widespread rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls was likely over north coast of Andhra and adjoining Telangana during next 12 hours. It has also forecast squally winds with speed of 45 to 55 km gusting to 65 along and off the north Andhra coast.

There were still reports of very heavy to heavy rains at many places in the coast on Friday. Tanks breached in Narsaraopeta of Guntur after heavy rains. Highest rainfall of more than 50 cm was recorded in Maddipadu in Nellore, 27 cm in Nuzendla in Guntur and 14 cm in Ongole in Prakasham, 20 cm in Visannapet in Krishna, 15 cm in Vijaywada.

Heaving a sigh of relief, the state administration has started assessing the extensive damages to the public and private property caused by the system in southern and central coastal districts of Nellore, Prakasham, Guntur and Krishna.

Of the 71,000 people evacuated to safer places, some have started going back home as 7 relief camps were closed in Srikakulam district.

According to an official press release, the death toll has mounted to 23. Krishna reported highest number of deaths with seven, followed by five in Prakasham, four each in Nellore, and Guntru, two in East Godavari, one in Visakhapatanam, three persons were missing, two in Krishna and one in East Godavari.

According to the preliminary assessment agricultural cops over 11351 hectares and horticulture crops (mostly Banana and mango) over 7949 hectares.

At least 416 boats were lost and 1643 boats were damaged causing a loss of 2.28 core. Other losses were still being enumerated and the state government has constituted special teams for the purpose.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who reviewed the situation twice during the day, will under take aerial survey of Prakasham, Guntur and Krishna on Saturday.