Laila Cyclone Drawing Near Coast

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CHENNAI, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- The coastal regions of north Tamil Nadu were battered with heavy showers as Cyclone Laila intensified and moved across the eastern coast of India on Wednesday. It is expected to hit and lash Andhra Pradesh with rainfall today night or tomorrow morning. As a measure of precaution, the met office has asked the fishermen not to venture into the sea. The ports in Andhra Pradesh have been put on alert. The state governments in coastal states like Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have not taken any chance and started evacuation in the coastal villages. The oil firms and ports have also been put on alert. The wind may develop a speed of 155 km per hour when it hits Andhra Pradesh tomorrow as the met office has predicted and hence precautions have been taken to minimize the damages.

Andhra Pradesh has two oil refineries and coal ports which may become vulnerable to Cyclone Laila if it becomes stronger. However, the weather office has nearly ruled out the possibility of Laila having a severe impact on the monsoon this year. The cyclone will also make sea waves rough in the coastal region in Andhra Pradesh.

Dharmana Prasada Rao, who is the state’s relief minister, said in his speech that the government is ready with the disaster management teams. Already 50000 people have been evacuated to safety. Reliance Industries which owns the biggest gas field of India situated near the Andhra Pradesh coast is aware of the cyclone and it is keeping a watch over cyclone Laila’s developments. Chennai Petroleum Corp Ltd and the Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd have also been alerted.