HYDERABAD, India, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Cyclonic storm Laila Thursday crossed the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh coast near Bapatla in Guntur district, officials in the state administration said here.
Huge storms were seen in the Bay of Bengal area when the cyclone hit the coast about 50 km from Bapatla town, while heavy rains and strong gales continued in the coastal region for the second consecutive day, paralyzing normal life and severely affecting the road and rail transport.
As cyclone Laila crossed the coast after repeatedly changing its course, strong gales wrought havoc along and off the coast with a speed of 125 km per hour.
"The cyclone would weaken after crossing the coast," officials at the Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Center said.
The Cyclone Warning Center has, however, forecast the possibility of heavy rains across coastal Andhra and parts of Rayalaseema and Telangana regions in the next two days.
Meanwhile, the storm surge of 1.5 to 2 meters has completely inundated the villages along the coast.
