HEAVY rains with strong gales lashed coastal Andhra region on Wednesday as authorities began forceful evacuation from low-lying areas with the cyclonic storm set for landfall on Thursday morning. The storm, christened Laila, lay centred at 320 km south-southwest of Machilipatnam and is set to cross the Andhra coast between Kakinada (East Godavari) and Nellore. Around 100 fishermen were reportedly missing from different districts of the state. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) suggested total suspension of fishing operation, moving coastal hutment dwellers to safer places and advised people in the coastal districts to remain indoors.