Cyclone Hudhud claims six lives

While three people have died in Andhra Pradesh  the remaining three lost their lives in Odisha.

The three deaths were confirmed by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu who said the cyclone destroyed huge crops and property and more losses are expected.

While two died in tree fall, one became a victim of a wall collapse  in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Chandrababu Naidu over the cyclone and its impact on the state.

He assured Naidu of all possible assistance in relief and rescue operations.

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met again on Sunday under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and eviewed the situation of the affected districts in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha after landfall of the cyclonic storm ‘Hudhud’ this afternoon.

According to preliminary assessment, the cyclone has left 6 people dead, 3 each in A.P and Odisha. The Communication services and power and electricity have been considerably damaged in the affected districts.

A detailed assessment will be carried out as soon as the wind speed is reduced and the roads are cleared. The Centre has kept its all agencies on full alert to provide necessary assistance to the states.

Meanwhile, 2 more NDRF teams have started moving from Odisha towards Srikakulam by road.

"NDRF teams have evacuated about 11,300 persons (1,300- Visakhapatnam, 2,500 - Vijaynagaram and 7,500 persons from East Godavari district) of Andhra Pradesh and 1,400 persons (40- Kendrapada, 50- Ganjam,500- Puri and 813 in Koraput) from Odisha. Apart from above, medical check-up of 50 marooned persons carried out at Gupti village of Kendrapada district in Odisha,"the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a  statement.

The Armed Forces have repositioned their assets and waiting for the civil administration’s directions to launch rescue and relief operations in the cyclone affected regions of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

"In the meantime, Andhra Sub Area of Army has deployed four teams of its personnel at Vishakhapatnam and four teams at Srikakulam (Tikli and Echerla). 300 Life Jackets, 12 Bauts, four Baps and eight OBMs are provided to them," the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The Army has established a Disaster Management Cell at Air Defence College, Gopalpur.

"Six teams and ten Sub teams have been deployed for Road Opening Party and launching rescue and relief operations at Gopalpur. Army has also kept 25 rescue teams and two Engineer Task Forces on standby at Ranchi, Allahabad and Secunderabad," it said.

Indian Navy has also positioned its assets and personnel in some of the important areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh including Chilka and Vishakhapatnam, for relief and rescue operation, which will be coordinated by Naval Officer-in-Charge, Odisha and Naval Officer-in-Charge Andhra Pradesh, respectively.

It has kept 30 diving teams with Gemini craft and associated equipment, 20 rescue teams, four ships with Medical Bricks and medical stores, six helicopters and two fixed winged aircrafts and two medical teams ready at Vishakhapatnam for undertaking rescue and relief operations.

"Indian Air Force has already geared itself up to undertake relief, rescue and rehabilitation operations as and when required. To bolster the transport efforts, IAF has kept one IL-76, one C-17 and five AN-32 aircraft ready at Chandigarh, Delhi, Jorhat and Agra. Keeping the rescue operations in mind it has kept in standby mode three Chetak at Hakimpet, one Medium Light Helicopter (Mi-8) at Yelahanka and ten Medium Light Helicopters (Mi-17) at Nagpur, Hyderabad, Kalaikunda, Suratgarh, Bagdogra and Barrackpore," read the statement.

"Indian Coast Guard has also deployed 17 ships, two Air Cushion Vessels (ACVs) and 13 aircraft in Eastern and North-Eastern regions to augment the rescue and relief operations, wherever required. Out of 17 ships, six ships and five aircraft have been stationed at Chennai, three ships at Kakinada, three at Vishakhapatnam, four ships at Paradip, one ship, two ACVs and four aircraft at Haldia and four aircraft at Kolkata. Three rescue teams of Indian Coast Guard are also kept on standby at Vishakhapatnam, Kakinada and Gopalpur," it said.

As the exact nature and magnitude of devastation is yet to emerge completely, the state authorities are now monitoring the route and velocity of the cyclone closely. The contour and the magnitude of relief operations by the armed forces in these two states will be shaped accordingly. .

Telephone numbers for Cyclone Assistance: MHA Delhi- 011-23093563, 23093566. Odisha-1948, AP-1949.

NDRF has released helpline numbers to carry out relief measures for Cyclone Hudhud. One can call on 011-26107953 and 09711077372.
OR One can call on toll free number 1100 for relief operations for Cyclone Hudhud.

Image: AP Disaster Management FB page