71,000 people in 300 relief camps in coastal Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, May 21 (PTI) As many as 71,000 people continued
to be in 300 relief camps in six coastal districts of India's
southern state Andhra Pradesh even as the cyclonic storm
'Laila' further weakened into a deep depression and lay
centred over the north coastal area about 50 km north of
Machilipatnam.
Chief Minister K Rosaiah held a tele-conference with
collectors and special officers of Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna,
West Godavari, East Godavari and Visakhapatnam districts after
a high-level meeting with ministers and heads of departments
here Friday afternoon and directed them to continue the vigil
for a few more days.
Though 'Laila' appeared to have weakened, widespread
rainfall with scattered heavy to very heavy falls is likely
over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana regions during
the next 12 hours, a weather bulletin said.
Fairly widespread rainfall with isolated heavy to very
heavy falls is likely over south coastal Andhra Pradesh and
Orissa in the next 24 hours, the met department said.
Squally winds with speed reaching up to 65 kmph are likely
along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast during the next 12
hours, it said, adding there was possibility of emergence of
the system into north Bay of Bengal and intensifying again
over the sea.
"The system is therefore under constant watch," it said.
Citing the weather forecast, the Chief Minister asked the
officials to be on alert to ensure proper relief for the
people in coastal districts.
He also directed the Medical and Health Department to take
all steps to prevent outbreak of diseases in the cyclone-hit
areas.
The Chief Minister was informed that rail tracks and
bridges between Vijayawada and Chennai which got damaged due
to heavy rain in the last two days were repaired and all train
services to Chennai via Vijayawda, Guntur and Ongole were
restored on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Disaster Management Department informed
that agricultural crops in 5,800 hectares and horticulture
crops in 6,060 hectares suffered extensive damage as per
preliminary estimates.
"The monetary loss will run into several crores of rupees
and detailed enumeration of the loss will be taken up in two
days," a senior official of the Department said.
Fishermen in the coastal districts also suffered heavy
damage as 262 boats were lost in the cyclone and another 1450
got damaged. They also lost 2,832 fishing nets worth Rs 2.75
crore.As many as 108 electrical sub-stations were affected by
cyclone disrupting power supply to 1047 villages.
Power Transmission Corporation authorities said power
might be restored in these villages by Saturday. PTI