Cyclone crosses Andhra coast near Bapatla

HYDERABAD - The severe cyclonic storm Laila crossed the Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla in Guntur district Thursday afternoon.

Officials said huge storm surges were seen in the Bay of Bengal when the cyclone hit the coast about 50 km from Bapatla town. Strong gales with a speed of 125 km per hour wrought havoc along and off the coast as Laila crossed the coast after changing its course repeatedly during the last three days.

Storm surge of 1.5 to 2 metres inundated the villages along the coast. Details of the damages caused by the cyclone are awaited.

According to Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, the cyclone would weaken after crossing the coast. However, it forecast heavy rains across coastal Andhra and parts of Rayalaseema and Telangana regions during the next 36 hours.

Heavy rains and strong gales continued in the coastal region for the second consecutive day, paralysing normal life and badly affecting road and rail transport.