War on Hudhud | Fusion - WeRIndia

Hudhud’s fury,with winds of up to 200 kms per hour, abated to 110 kmph a day after it hit Vishakhapatnam. The sun emerged over the port city, but rains continue to be severe, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

Vishakhapatnam seems to be completely battered, even as the government gears up to restore, rehabilitate and recompense the affected. In a city that has prided itself to be a green city, 70-80 per cent of the trees have got uprooted. One worker said that the city needs at least 100 years to rebuild. The teams of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) had worked overnight to ensure that the national highway to Vijayawada was opened.

The death toll due to the devastating cyclonic storm in Andhra Pradesh climbed to 21. About 4 to 5 lakh people were evacuated and are taking shelter in relief camps. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take an aerial survey of Vishakhapatnam on Tuesday. Chief minister Chandrababu Naidu has urged the PM to treat it as a national disaster and release Rs 2,000 crore for relief.

The government is working on communication lines, removing fallen trees and broken electric poles. They are putting in all efforts to get air and train services, damaged railroads and the airport back on track. Essential commodities such as milk, candles and kerosene are being restored by relief teams.

The defence ministry has explained that four naval ships were ready to sail to the coast, carrying relief material for 5,000 people, and about 24 diving teams for relief operations.

Meanwhile, the governments of Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are collectively sending men and material for rescue operations.

Liberal assistance has been worked out for people who lost their crops, as well as ex gratia to the families of those who died due to the natural disaster that has in all affected five coastal districts of the state. The new scale of assistance came into force from Sunday.

In neighbouring Odisha, the cyclone did less damage. Government teams worked to clear the debris on the roads, evacuating 2.74 lakh people. There was no casualty, fortunately.

The Hudhud reached Chattisgarh on Monday morning but dropped in intensity to become a ‘deep depression”. It will only bring rain to east India.

Would you like to help? Donations are welcome to AP CM Relief Fund, SBI account-33913634404, IFSC Code-SBIN0002724, Branch Name, SBI Treasury Branch, Gowliguda, Hyderabad. Cheques could be sent to deputy Secretary, Revenue Department, L-Block, AP Secretariat, Hyderabad.

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