The cyclone, 'Laila,' is stationed at about 100 kilometres westerly to Kakinada in east Godavary district of Andhra Pradesh this afternoon. According to weathermen, the storm is slowly moving northerly direction towards Orissa and likely to weaken further. However, moderate to heavy rainfall predicted in Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna and East and West Godavary districts for the next 24 hours.<br/> <br/>Meanwhile, the cyclone has so far claimed 17 lives in five districts Krishna, Nellore, Guntur, Praksam and East Godavari of the state. Reports reaching Hyderabad are indicating that the number of deaths due to cyclonic storm is more. However, officials are yet to confirm as the enumeration is still underway. <br/> <br/>According to preliminary reports, over 1000 villages and few towns are in darkness as power supply was stopped as a precautionary measure. Though the timely preventive measures taken by the state administration could avert massive destruction, extensive damage occurred. Several houses and crops and horticulture crops in over 15,000 hectares and 1500 fishing boats worth several crores of rupees were damaged due to the storm in Prakasam, Nellore, Guntur and Krishna districts when the cyclonic storm crossed the land. <br/>Meanwhile, Chief Minister K Rosaiah who has reviewed the situation with district collectors has directed them to be alert for 24 hours more as heavy rains are likely in several coastal districts in view of the likely heavy rainfall. <br/> <br/>Relief operations are underway on war footing in the affected districts especially in the worst hit Prakasam district. Dozens of villages and also colonies in urban areas including Addanki and Ongoolu were marooned following unprecedented rainfall of up to 35 cms at some places in the past 24 hours. District authorities have evacuated 71,000 people from low-lying areas to safer places in these affected districts. About 300 relief camps have been set up and people have been asked not to leave the camps till the storm threat is fully averted. Food packets and water saches are being distributed. The teams of National Disaster Management Authority have reached Prakasam district and taking part in relief activities. The additional police forces which have been sent from Hyderabad are assisting the district authorities in carrying out restoration works. <br/>Restoration works of Communication systems and power supply are going in the affected districts. Power supply is likely to be restored this evening to about 1000 villages where supply was stopped to avert possible untoward incidents. High way no 5 near Ongool has been restored this afternoon for traffic after clearing the trees which were uprooted. Several irrigation tanks were either over flown or breached posing inconvenience to people. Meanwhile, the south central Railway that has cancelled over 50 trains is now slowly resuming its services.<br/> <br/>The current environmental conditions and Numerical Weather Prediction models suggest the system is likely to weaken further and move in the north-easterly direction towards Orissa. Many parts of Orissa received heavy rainfall today under the impact of cyclonic storm ‘Laila’. The Bhubaneswar Metrological Office has predicted rain or thundershower at most places over south Orissa and at many places over north Orissa with a wind speed of 45 to 55 km per hour in the next 24 hours. Signal no 3 has been hoisted in all the ports of Orissa and fishermen have been asked not to venture into the deep sea. However, there has been no reports of any casualty and missing of persons from any parts of Orissa.<br/><br/><br/> <br/>