Cyclone Laila Kills 12: Headed for Andhra Pradesh: Path Forecast

by Amy Judd | May 19, 2010 at 12:00 pm

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Cyclone Laila Has Caused At Least 12 Deaths and is Expected to Hit Andhra Pradesh on Thursday

Heavy rains and storms caused by Cyclone Laila have killed at least 12 people as the weather system battered the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Cyclone Laila is set to make landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coastline near Machilipatnam sometime around Thursday. On Wednesday night the Cyclone is about 250 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam and about 500 km south-southwest of Visakhapatnam.

"It is likely to intensify further and move slowly in a northwesterly to northerly direction and cross the AP coast between Kavali and Kakinada close to Machilipatnam by Thursday afternoon or evening," the Indian Meteorological Department said.

The storm is going to be severe and officials are warning all residents to take cover and move away from the coastline. Already in Andhra, power has been cut off, trees have been uprooted and houses have been damaged. Over 100,000 people have been evacuated from the lower areas of Visakhapatnam, Krishna and both west and east Godavari districts.

“We did not want to take a chance as the cyclone may make a landfall even in the night. While some people have moved on their own, we are helping others shift to camps,” said a revenue official in East Godavari district.

After Cyclone Laila hits Andhra Pradesh, it will most likely etravel along to Kolkata where it is expected to become a tropical storm some time around May 25, but if it does not, and continues to become stronger it could be devastating to the Kolkata coast.

The army is currently on standby and relief teams are in the area in preparation for the storm. The heavy rains and winds is expected to continue for the next five or six days regardless of what happens to Cyclone Laila. Everyone has been advised to stay out of the sea.