The very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud has hit Visakhapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh this morning. The storm over west-central Bay of Bengal has moved further and is making landfall beginning 11 am off Visakhapatnam coast. According to PTI, two persons were killed in rain related incidents in Vishakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts. Normal life in Visakhapatnam and its neighbouring districts came to a grinding halt as gale winds speed reaching 150-180 kmph are sweeping the north Andhra coastal districts coupled with heavy spells of rain since Saturday night. Lightening in the clouds occurring at frequent intervals is visible which is a common feature as the eye of storm touched the coastline. The wind speed is expected to peak up to 190-200 kmph at the time system crosses the coast.
Trees and electrical poles were uprooted at many places snapping communication and electricity networks. Transport of all modes have been suspended as a precautionary measure and people have been warned not to venture out of their homes as the very severe cyclone makes landfall anytime in the afternoon. Seawaters surged ahead at many vulnerable and low-lying areas making people to run for higher grounds especially in fishermen hamlets. The system is expected to cross the coast near Visakhapatnam by afternoon today. This is the first cyclone in 18 years that is going to make a landfall near the port city today.
High alert has been sounded for Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and East Godavari districts as the cyclone is expected to cause more damage. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who is constantly reviewing the situation with officials of the cyclone prone districts said the state administration is fully geared up to face any eventuality. He said elaborate arrangements have been made to meet the situation due to the cyclone’s impact. His cabinet colleagues representing from the cyclone affected districts are closely monitoring the rescue and relief works with district administrations and teams deployed by NDRF and Armed forces.
20 teams of the National Disaster Response Force, NDRF, have already taken position in vulnerable areas besides 30 Navy teams with equipment and a column of Army from Andhra Sub-area and the State Disaster Management Forces. The State government is making all out efforts to minimise loss of life and property. District authorities in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari have commenced evacuation of people from low-lying and vulnerable areas since Saturday mobilising them to relief camps and shelters.
The East Coast Railway has cancelled the services of 38 trains on the Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam route from morning of today. The entire section would be closed to all mail, express and passenger trains. In all a total of 84 trains, 30 express and 16 passenger trains were cancelled and 35 either short terminated or are running in a diverted route. Flight services to Visakhapatnam also got interrupted. The road transport corporation has already stopped buses plying in and out of Visakhapatnam since Saturday evening.
After landfall, the system would maintain the intensity of a very severe cyclonic storm for six hours and weaken gradually while moving northwest across south interior Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
