Cyclone Laila Forces 50,000 Indians to Evacuate

Indian Authorities Evacuate up to 50,000 as TC Laila makes landfall

Up to 50,000 people have been evacuated from the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Laila approaches southern India.

“Already the Andhra Pradesh coast is being battered by high tides and fierce winds. Even though the windfall is expected only in the evening, the waves and the winds have already caused extensive damage in coastal districts, where trees have been uprooted, cars smashed and roads damaged. Communication and power supplies have also been disrupted and air and train services have come to a halt,” a government official said.

At least 13 people have already been killed in the past 36 hours  as a result of  torrential rains, according to various News Bulletins.

Tropical Cyclone Laila. Source of image:  CIMSS Tropical Cyclones Group. Click image to enlarge.

TC Laila has maxi,u, sustained winds of about 92.5km/hr with gusts of up to 120km/hr as of 12:00UTC, 20 May 2010, according to JTWC, CIMSS and other sources.

So far the most damaging aspect of TC Laila has been its accompanying torrential rains that have pounded the  state Tamil Nadu.

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