Cyclone Laila - ham radio activated

Ham radio is in use in coastal Andhra Pradesh, India, as cyclone Laila knocks-out the cell-phone networks.

Officials said heavy gales with speed reaching up to 75 km per hour uprooted cell phone towers and damaged other communication equipment, especially in Prakasam, Guntur, Nellore, Krishna, and East and West Godavari districts.

Radio hams had earlier been put on standby in anticipation of the storm.

Storm snaps coastal Andhra's mobile phone link
http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-111399.html

Andhra Pradesh CM alerts official machinery in view of deep depression, Cyclonic Storm Laila
http://www.orissadiary.com/Shownews.asp?id=18558