Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, Nellore: There were heavy rains, as coastal Andhra Pradesh waited hours for Cyclone Laila. Thursday evening when landfall happened at Bapatla, Laila was thankfully a little more mellowed than what was feared. With wind speed at over 100 km per hour, high tide and fear of flash floods, the administration wanted to take no chances.
"We are trying to convince people with support of local leaders to evacuate. If they are reluctant, we are using the police force. There is no other way for us, this is only to safeguard their lives," said K Rosaiah, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh.
Ongole town in Prakasam district received as much as 34 CMs of rain in 12 hours while several other coastal areas were inundated.
The havoc caused by heavy rainfall on Wednesday hasn't been a one-day affair. The downpour here hasn't stopped and the people here know what the fury of the Godavari would mean, especially if it continues to rain for the next 48 to 72 hours.
In Nellore district, for example, several trees were uprooted and life was thrown totally out of gear, 6,000 people shifted to rescue shelters don't know when they can return home.
NDTV visited Muthialthope village, 20 km from Nellore town, this village is deserted as people have been evacuated by the district administration.
There was virtually no rain in Tamil Nadu today, though trains connecting Chennai and Andhra Pradesh were among 40 trains cancelled. Air traffic was suspended to Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam from Hyderabad.
The effect of cyclone will persist for the next 24 hours, the immediate worry still remains minimising loss of life but the bigger concern now is also its possible impact on the Southwest Monsoon and agriculture.