Prakasam worst hit by cyclone

Cyclonic storm Laila now moved north-northeastwards in the Bay of Bengal and weakened into a depression. According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), it lay centred at about 100 km west of Kakinada on Friday.

Under its  influence north  Telangana  districts and  North coast  of  Andhra  region will experience heavy rains  in the  next  24 hours.

The  cyclonic storm continued to batter the Coastal  region of Andhra Pradesh  for the third consecutive day on Friday inundating towns and villages.

The transport system in Prakasam  district was paralysed and electricity and communication disrupted.Heavy downpour continued in the worst-hit Prakasam district which  recorded  a rainfall of 40 cm in the last couple of days.

In Prakasam district at least 11 towns and hundreds of villages remained under darkness as electricity system was badly disrupted in the region. 

About 30  colonies in Ongole town  itself  are still submerged  under water. Residents have to  wade through  knee-deep waters to  reach  their homes.

The  Gundlakamma  rivulet  in Prakasam  district was in spate and the twelve crest gates at Gundlakamma project were lifted to release the flood water into the sea. About 20 villages in the district are still marooned  with no communication.

Road transport in Prakasam  district came to a standstill due to rains and uprooted trees. The Chennai-Kolkata national highway in Ongole town is under four feet water. Train services remained paralysed for the second day.

As the rains have  receded the people in the  relief camps are slowly trekking  their way  back to their villages.