CYCLONE LAILA KILLS 27 IN SOUTHERN INDIA

HEAVY RAINS AND STRONG WINDS
DISRUPT LIFE IN ANDHRA PRADESH

NEW DELHI (BBC News) - Coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh which bore the brunt of cyclone Laila received an average of about two inches of rainfall per hour, according to data collected by a NASA satellite. At least 27 people have died over the last two days as a powerful cyclone caused widespread havoc across the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Cyclone Laila toppled power lines and landslides and heavy rains stalled transport networks around the state. The storm is now weakening and is reported to be moving east to neighbouring Orissa state but officials say it can still cause more damage. More than 50,000 people were evacuated as the storm closed in. Cyclone Laila made landfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, plunging the area into darkness and battering it with heavy rains and strong winds. Winds of 100km/h (60mph) uprooted trees and electricity poles and massive waves lashed the coast.

Andhra Pradesh disaster management commissioner T. Radha said more than 70,000 people evacuated ahead of the storm had been told to stay in shelters until Friday evening. Radha told AFP that at least 17 people had died in storm-related accidents across the state. Television footage showed cars smashed by fallen trees, huts missing their thatched roofs, people clearing debris left by the wind and rains, flooded roads and marooned villages. The heavy rains and strong winds damaged mango, banana and lime crops, with conservative estimates putting the losses at two billion rupees (41 million dollars.) Officials say at least 55 fishermen are reported missing. The army and navy are on high alert. It is the worst storm to hit Andhra Pradesh in 14 years. In 1977, more than 10,000 people were killed when a cyclone hit Andhra Pradesh.

People are suffering from the strong beating of Mother Nature, and as we are living in the plane of ignorance and error, we can not understand what purpose lies behind a climate natural phenomenon. To grasp its meaning, we should give up our local interests and identify ourselves with the plane of the Universal Absolute's interest.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Only Krishna knows what purpose is served by the grass bending in the wind to this side, not that. ... The universal meaning of every event and incident, even the movement of a piece of straw, is all-purposeful and all-meaningful to the Absolute. It all contributes to the absolute satisfaction of Krishna. But that reading is not possible for the superficial jīvas. ... We may interpret in our own way the reason for an earthquake, a storm, or anything, but that reading is from our local interest - the real meaning is hidden. This is maya, and on the basis of that we are performing so many activities. All our interpretations are from the plane of local interest, so give it up!

Śrīla Bhakti Raksaka Sridhara Mahārāja :
“Hearing to See” - “The Plane of Ignorance and Error”
Published in Centenary Anthology (Navadvipa: 1995)
Rays of The Harmonist No. 13 Karttika 2003.
Bhaktivedanta Memorial Library - www.bvml.org/SBRSM/