The HUDHUD Disaster: PM Narendra Modi to lend a helping hand

VISAKHAPATNAM, SRIKAKULAM: Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed this afternoon at Visakhapatnam’s severely damaged airport and will make an aerial survey of areas hit by Cyclone Hudhud, which killed at least 21 people in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Visakhapatnam (or Vizag), was hit worst by the cyclone. Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu, who has been supervising rescue and relief operations, is accompanying the PM on his aerial tour. PM Modi inspected the damage caused by Sunday’s cyclone to the airport, which is shut for repairs. Apart from other damage inside the building, the roof of the airport was blown off by the powerful cyclone which land with wind speed of about 200 kmph. Flights may keep off for atleast a week.

Mr Naidu has ordered officials to work round the clock to ensure that power and phone services are restored soon in the area. Mr Modi will also hold a review meeting at the office of the Vizag district collector. Mr Naidu had earlier written to Mr Modi requesting that the Centre declare the cyclone a national calamity and provide Rs.2,000 crore as interim relief.

Vizag resembled a war zone after the cyclone hit, with about 80 per cent of its trees uprooted, massive hoardings torn apart and statues fallen. Roads were cleared by Monday evening and the national highway to Vijayawada was opened. Rail operations may begin today after the tracks are repaired.

There are long queues at petrol pumps though the authorities have announced that they have fuel supplies to last 15 days and so there is no need to panic or hoard.

The Chandrababu Naidu government in Andhra Pradesh has formed five special teams to look after health, restoration, relief, power and sanitation in the cyclone-hit districts of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam. The rural areas of Andhra Pradesh, including Srikakulam, have suffered huge crop damage.

In Odisha, power supply has been restored in the four worst-hit districts. The government says the main worry now is flooding due to constant rains.

Over 5 lakh people were evacuated in both states. But with many people losing their homes, cyclone relief centres will continue to run for now.

-Meesha Sharma