The skies are overcast, the sea is boisterous. As the cyclone Hudhud advances towards the Visakhapatnam coast, there is a sense of alert everywhere. The landfall is expected to occur by noon on Sunday between Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).
The Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts are on high alert in view of the threat posed by Hudhud . Cyclones are not new to the East Coast of India. Last year cyclone Phailin ravaged the same region and incidentally it was on the same day, October 12.
However, the history of cyclones in the Visakhapatnam district indicates that there are lesser chances of natural calamities.
In fact, even during the devastating 2004 tsunami the damage along the Vizag coast was limited. The fishing community, though, are the ones who are affected the most during cyclones.
With cyclone Hudhud menacingly advancing towards the coast, the fishermen have been warned by the district officials to not venture out in to sea and communication has been sent to those already out there to return to the coast.
Names All eyes are now on the cyclone Hudhud , which is named after the national bird of Israel as suggested by Oman.
Naming of tropical cyclones began officially in 1945 from prepared lists to help identify storms instantly in messages between the forecasters and the public. Since 2004, the IMD began naming tropical cyclones within the North Indian Ocean.
Eight countries take turns to name cyclones over the Indian Ocean. As the cyclone Hudhud brews over the Bay of Bengal, it is projected to turn into a very severe cyclonic storm.
