Laila hits Indian state, death toll rises to 23

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HYDERABAD, May 21 (AP): The death toll from a powerful cyclone that slammed into southeastern India, toppling power lines and triggering landslides, has climbed to 23, a top official said Friday.
The storm plunged a large swath of coastal Andhra Pradesh state into darkness when it hit Thursday packing strong winds of 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour. The storm made landfall near the coastal town of Bapatla, about 250 miles (400 kilometres) southeast of Hyderabad, and waves as high as 9 feet (3.0 metres) lashed the coast.