Villages have been evacuated, special buses have been arranged, and several disaster management teams are being arranged, in anticipation of Laila's entry.
Cyclone Laila is leaving everybody sleepless and nervous, even a 100 km away from the coast.
All of coastal Andhra has been under high alert since Wednesday morning. Tidal waves are higher by 5-8 metres; and trees being uprooted, power suspended and daily life in general being disrupted has become a common sight.
As night fell, Laila's impact was felt even in the Rayalaseema region, with Chittoor & Anantapur witnessing heavy rains. Electricity was shut, and 3 died after being electrocuted due to loosely hanging wires. Kurnool, too, was a victim of seamless rains, which showed no signs of slowing down.
All flights have been cancelled connecting Hyderabad and other coastal areas, mainly Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam.
Over 71 fishermen, who were stranded for 2 days in the high tides, landed in Machilipatnam. They claim that the govt isn't helping then, and there there are lots of people like them who are stranded in the sea.
The Congress government, meanwhile, is seen to be gearing up to face the impending hour of doom. CM Rosaiah has decided to put up in the camp office for the night.
An all-party meeting was arranged in Hyderabad this evening, where the main agenda was alternative arrangements for roads and railways if and when disrupted. Also under consideration were crops being grown in the coastal region. Various Disaster Management bureaus have been called in and their guidance sorted. The District collectors have been ordered to keep stringent vigil, and to a report to the CM's office every hour is now due.
Over 22,000 people are reported to have been shifted in the entire day, and the process will continue even after darkness falls, officials said. The worst hit districts - East & West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur - have 773 villages, with over 11 lakh people required to be evacuated in all. The state government has issued orders to the officials working on the ground that the evacuation process must not be halted even in the face of resistance. Also, forcible evacuation was ordered if necessary.
Shelter has been provided for all those evacuated. Relief, in the form of food, water and clothing has already arrived from various parts of Andhra Pradesh.
Special buses have been arranged throughout the cyclone-hit areas, enabling people to return home before Laila looms large. 36 teams have been rushed in from Chennai to aid in the evacuation process and various other preventive measures. 6 quick response teams were also brought into the arena.
Cyclone Laila is expected to cross Machilipatnam, Krishna district, early Thursday morning.