Steps taken to prevent damage: CM

National Disaster Management Authority and Ministry of Home Affairs have moved the Disaster Relief teams to cyclone affected districts, stated Chief Minister K Roasiah.

Talking to reporters after attending a meeting to review flood situation in the cyclone affected coastal districts at the Secretariat, he stated the government had taken all precautionary measures to save the precious lives of people and to contain damage to property in the cyclone hit areas.

According to  CM's office sources , Centre has sent nine helicopters to help the state in flood situation. The  helicopters would help the district administration in evacuating people in the low-lying areas and drop food packets in flood-hit areas.

The state government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to families of the  deceased in cyclone.

Rosaiah said he had briefed the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi over the cyclone `Laila’ and what steps the government is taking to handle the situation and to contain human loss.  

He also sought the cooperation of the opposition parties in the state to meet the calamities.

He said the government has evacuated nearly 40,000 people from low-lying areas and rehabilitated them in the relief centres. Nearly 773 villages in 73 mandals in the coastal districts were affected due to cyclone, he said adding that 35,000 food packets were dropped in flood affected areas.