Damaged glass panels, fallen rubble and wet foam from damaged chairs lying on the floor of the New Integrated Terminal Building at Visakhapatnam International Airport must have helped Prime Minister Narendra Modi in visualising the impact of the Hudhud cyclone.
The Prime Minister was greeted by the rubble and open sky, as the roof was blown away by the gales, when he visited the airport terminal on Tuesday afternoon. He entered the terminal building from the outside and looked around, perhaps, trying to assess the damage and destruction caused by the fury of the cyclonic winds. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu and P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju accompanied the Prime Minister.
Airport Director C. Pattabhi was seen monitoring the removal of the debris inside the terminal building. “We hope to start temporary operation of commercial flights in a week. The roof has been blown away and the glass panes have been damaged. The damage to equipment can be assessed only after power supply is restored,” Mr. Pattabhi told The Hindu .
Only relief planes and Navy aircraft are currently operating from the airport. The SBI ATM centre near the entrance of the terminal building has been destroyed, the check-in counters belonging to various airline operators, TV screens and sign boards in the visitors lounge and the main hall have been damaged.
“I haven’t seen or heard of a disaster of this magnitude during my 30-year association with Visakhapatnam city. The beauty of the city has been lost and it would take a long time for the city to get back its green cover,” said Director General of Fire Services Nanduri Sambasiva Rao, who had done his engineering from Andhra University and worked as City Police Commissioner in the past.
Disaster Management teams from neighbouring States like Odisha have chipped in and are helping in the relief operations.
Prime Minister’s appreciationMr. Narendra Modi on Tuesday appreciated the State government and District Administration of Visakhapatnam for avoiding large-scale human and property loss by taking prompt action in response to the directives from the Centre.
During a review meeting held at the Collectorate on the havoc caused by Hudhud along with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Union ministers, State ministers and district officials, Mr. Modi said the details of heavy loss suffered by the Railways, Indian Navy and industries were available and assured that the Centre would give total support in their revival.
Regretting the loss suffered by the farmers when they were about to reap the harvest, the Prime Minister said the government would discuss with the insurance companies to provide insurance sum without delay. He found the work on restoration of power and water supply and communications going on briskly and assured that the Centre would provide all help to bring back normalcy in the city at the earliest.
He made an aerial survey of the city before landing at the INS Dega and witnessed the havoc caused by the cyclone to the city while coming to the Collectorate for the review meeting.
Governor Narishmhan, Union Ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu and P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishnamurthy, State ministers Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu and Ganta Srinivasa Rao and others, Collector N. Yuvaraj and others participated.
