Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the cyclone Hudhud affected areas of Andhra Pradesh today. He will undertake an aerial survey of the worst affected Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts.
Mr Modi will reach Visakhapatnam in the afternoon.
The Prime Minister has instructed top officials to ensure that there is no bottleneck in relief and rescue work in the cyclone affected Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. He also asked them to continue to work closely with the affected states.
Mr. Modi reviewed the status of relief and rescue operations at a high-level meeting in New Delhi last evening. He emphasized the need to document learnings from this cyclone and to put in place more precise drills and disaster management plans especially in areas which are prone to such disasters.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister was briefed on the extent of destruction including the damage to infrastructure like roads, railway lines, buildings, power and telecommunication lines.
He was also given an overview of the status of relief operations and steps taken to ensure supply of essential commodities including food, drinking water and fuel. Mr. Modi was informed that the extent of damage to standing crops will be assessed over the next few days.
AIR Correspondent reports, Prime Minister Modi will arrive in Visakhapatnam today to undertake an aerial survey of the cyclone-affected areas in Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts and neighbouring districts of Odisha for a first-hand assessment of the situation. But how will the Prime Minister touch down in the ravaged city remains a big question mark.
Air connectivity to Visakhapatnam remains badly hit. With the radar and navigational aids destroyed, it may take a few more days for the airport to become operational.
The runway is under water and the roof of the airport ripped apart by gale force winds.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who reached here yesterday to take charge of relief operations is expected to brief the Prime Minister on the extent of damage and urge him to declare the disaster a national calamity. Mr. Naidu indicated after a review meeting with officials in Visakhapatnam that he would urge the Prime Minister to release funds immediately for restoration work. The Chief Minister, who visited affected areas, said relief operations were going on a war-foot basis.
Steps are being taken to ensure supply of essential commodities including food, drinking water and fuel. All out efforts are on for restoration of power, telecommunications. Efforts were also on to provide alternative supply of power from other sources to Visakhapatnam. The cyclone has badly affected power supply in Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and partially in Srikakulam districts. About 2,000 engineers and work men were deployed in cyclone-affected areas of the three districts.
The Chief Minister ordered officials to take stringent action against anybody selling essential items at exorbitant rates. The Andhra Pradesh government has airlifted 50 tonnes material from Vijayawada and another 50 tonnes from Rajahmundry to provide food for over five lakh people in relief and rehabilitation camps.
Though some of the main roads have been cleared off from uprooted trees and collapsed polls, the restoration work of 15-kilometer long rail track near Elemanchili on Vijayawada-Visakhapatnam section is underway. Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments have extended help by deploying men and material for rescue operations.
