Cyclone nears India's southeast coast

INDIA: A severe cyclone packing winds of 110 kilometres an hour closed in on India's southeast coast Thursday as tens of thousands of residents evacuated their homes fearing major storm damage. Cyclone Laila was expected to hit the state of Andhra Pradesh in the afternoon, with forecasters warning of a sea surge and disrupted power and communication lines. As heavy rains and strong gales battered the coast, state authorities said at least 30,000 people had been evacuated from low-lying areas.

The armed forces were drafted in to help the evacuation efforts after Andhra Pradesh's chief minister, K. Rosaiah, called Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to request extra assistance.

The "severe" cyclone was positioned in the Bay of Bengal, 100 kilometres (60 miles) off the coast on Thursday morning, and was due hit land near the city of Machilipatnam, the Indian Meteorological Department said.

The department in its latest warning said a "storm surge" of up to two metres (six and a half feet) above the regular tide was likely to inundate parts of Andhra Pradesh. It said large trees were likely to be uprooted, houses damaged, and escape routes from the coast flooded.

All fishermen were ordered to stay on shore due to "very rough" sea conditions, and the Press Trust of India news agency said Reliance Industries had suspended crude oil and gas production in the Bay as a precaution.

The agency said 30,000 people had been evacuated from hundreds of coastal villages.

Three people were killed when a shed collapsed during heavy winds in Andhra Pradesh, while a fisherman drowned in rough sea in neighbouring Tamil Nadu state. Newspapers put the death toll at between 12 and 14.

The cyclone is forecast to move across Orissa and West Bengal states after making land.

HYDERABAD, Thursday, AFP