NEW DELHI (AlertNet) Â? As a strong tropical cyclone bears down on India's southeastern coast, authorities are stepping up efforts to minimise casualties and respond to its aftermath, aid workers say.
According to weather officials, cyclone Laila was moving in from the Bay of Bengal and was expected to hit the coast of India's Andhra Pradesh state on Thursday, packing gale force winds of up to 120 kmph.
While the Indian Meteorological Department said the cyclone has weakened in the last 12 hours, aid workers believe the impact is likely to be severe.
"The threat has not subsided fully yet, as gales with speeds of over 115 km in the coastal areas may cause significant damage in Andhra Pradesh," noted a report from the U.N.'s Disaster Management Team in Delhi.
Accompanied by storm surges or tidal waves of up to six feet and heavy rains, authorities and aid workers expect tens of thousands of people - mainly poor fishing communities - living in low-lying coastal areas to be impacted.
The storm's effects are already being felt, not just in Andhra Pradesh but also in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Heavy rainfall has caused knee-high flooding in many areas, and strong winds have toppled trees and disrupted power and communications lines.
The United Nations says ten deaths have been reported so far.
However, aid workers say disaster-prone Andhra Pradesh appears to be taking no chances.
"The response by the state government has been very good. Andhra Pradesh is well-experienced in dealing with these kinds of disasters," said Vikas Gora of Sphere India, an emergency coordination group of U.N., government and aid agencies.
PREPARATIONS
Evacuations of over 40,000 people living in some of the most-at-risk districts - Nellore, Prakasham, Guntur, Krishna, West Godavari, East Godavari and Vishakhapatnam - are under way.
Buses have been ferrying villagers to relief centres set up in cyclone shelters, government schools, cinema halls and other places.
Aid workers say the authorities have shifted groceries and gas cylinders to the centres to prepare food for the displaced for five days.
Local radio and television stations are broadcasting advisories requesting people to move from the coast to safer areas, and asking those living further inland to remain indoors. All fishing operations have been suspended, according to the warnings.
The army is also on standby for search and rescue operations, extra boats are being sent by the neighbouring states of Orissa and Tamil Nadu, and over 400 troops from the National Emergency Defense Force are being deployed with flood rescue equipment.
Hotlines and control rooms have been set up and telephone numbers flash across the screens of TV news stations as they track the course of cyclone, which is predicted to make landfall near the village of Machilipatnam in Krishna district.
Andhra Pradesh is no stranger to cyclones, floods, earthquakes and drought. More than 60 cyclones have hit the region over the past century, with their regularity increasing in the last few decades to one almost every three years.
The deadliest cyclone in November 1977 killed about 10,000 people.
This time round, aid workers say initial needs after cyclone Laila will include emergency food rations, hygiene kits, drinking water and clothes.
International agencies have told their national partners in the affected areas to use emergency funds to buy relief materials on the local market.
"We believe that the government is able to handle it but we are here to support if the need is there," said Harjeet Singh, emergencies manager for ActionAid India.
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