The cyclone Laila Landfall started on the coast of the southeastern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, and went out to sea, after leaving a trail of destruction in several towns in the area.
According to the Service Indo-Asian News (IANS), the tropical storm entered the mainland in the afternoon of Thursday in the vicinity of Bapatla, Guntur district.
Laila, the first hurricane that formed this year in the Bay of Bengal, was accompanied by winds of 125 kilometers per hour and heavy rain.
“We are assessing the damage caused by the storm in coastal Andhra,” said a state government official who was quoted by IANS.
According to the report of the Indian agency, Laila went back into the sea after a short journey by land, now continues towards Balasore in Orissa state, although is a little weaker.
Strong winds and rain since yesterday affecting the catchment area of the storm have caused serious damage to crops and infrastructure, while reportedly had 14 victims.
The Indian defense ministry said in a statement it had mobilized nearly one hundred troops, including several doctors, and four helicopters to help the victims.
Around 50 000 people living in flood-prone areas were evacuated before the arrival of the hurricane, and thousands more moved to safety by their own means.
“We have taken all necessary precautionary steps to reduce human and material losses. The official machinery is prepared for any eventuality,” said local mayor, K. Rosaiah, told reporters in the state capital of Hyderabad.
In May last year, the storm Aila ended 169 lives and left more than seven million victims in its passage through India and Bangladesh.
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