Cyclone Hudhud caused extensive devastation as it made landfall at Visakhapatnam on Sunday afternoon. Three persons each were killed in cyclone-related incidents in the State and Odisha. Authorities evacuated more than five lakh people to relief camps in Andhra Pradesh.
While Visakhapatnam city and the wider district bore the brunt of the havoc, the cyclonic storm caused widespread damage in the north coastal districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram, besides affecting normal life in East Godavari.
Gale force winds accompanied by rain battered Visakhapatnam, disrupting communication, and uprooted electric poles, trees, flexi boards and hoardings at several places. The authorities had suspended power supply and stopped traffic on the national highways since Saturday evening as a precautionary measure.
As many as 24 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, two Army columns, 56 boats/launches and six helicopters were deployed for relief measures. The state government also rushed 155 medical teams to prevent outbreak of diseases. The navy will lead a joint armed forces relief operation, code named Lehar.
The Met Department said Hudhud had weakened into severe cyclonic storm and the wind speeds reduced to 100 kmph by 5.30 on Sunday evening. It would weaken further into a cyclonic storm and into depression by 11.30 on Monday morning.
