Ongole severely hit by cyclone

Prakasam  district  was the worst hit  district in the  state due  to the  Laila  Cyclone. The   district  recorded  a  rainfall of  34  cms on Thursday inundating the  low-lying areas. Heavy rains  accompanied by gale winds  touching  110 to 115 kmph caused extensive  damage uprooting  many  trees and snapping  of the electrical  wires.  Hundreds of electric poles were  razed to the  ground due to  the gale winds.

The  impact of  the  squall winds was so powerful  that  a  650-year-old  banyan  tree in  Prakasam  district  too was uprooted.

In village  like Gutukondavaripalem, a  villager  have to climb a top  of the tree   as  the  flood waters inundated the  villages.

Many of the villages in  Prakasam district  were plunged into  darkness following the snapping up of  electric wires due to  squall  winds. Even the   Collectorate in Ongole  was plunged  into  darkness  and the  relief authorities are working round  the clock  with the  help of  candles.

The  Ongole-Chirala highway  was blocked  as many uprooted  tress blocked the  highway.

People living in the low-lying areas had  wade  through knee-deep  waters  to reach  their homes. Water stood at  3  to 4  feet on the highways  disrupting the traffic causing inconvenience to the  passengers. In all 112 electric sub-stations were  hit by  Cyclones.

The  railway  track between  Ongole  and Gudur  was  submerged under water  with several trains being   cancelled.