Govt gears up to face ‘Hudhud’

• East Coast Naval Command sounds high alert
• Four ships put on standby for relief and rescue operations
• Administration in north coastal districts put in a state of preparedness

Visakhapatnam/ Vizianagaram/ Srikakulam: The District administration is fully geared up to face and tackle the Cyclonic Storm-Hudhud over the Bay of Bengal as it turned into a Super Cyclone and centered 500 km from Visakhapatnam coast.

District Collector N Yuva Raj said here on Friday that the cyclone is likely to make landfall by forenoon. He directed all by alerting all district and mandal officials to go to their allotted places by tonight and stock up all essential commodities at the relief camps in the district.

The administration identified 57 low-lying villages near to the coast under Rambilli, Payakaraopet, Nakkapalli, Chodavaram, Anakapalli. Plans are afoot to evacuate 35,000 people to 40 relief camps set up at various places.
By tonight, all essential commodities like food, water, milk, rice, kerosene and LPG would be stocked up in the relief centres. He said Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had instructed the officials to ensure quality food and pure water to people in relief camps.

The threat of cyclone Hudhud to the east coast also has led to the Eastern Naval Command sounding high degree of readiness to render humanitarian assistance. Four Naval ships would be deployed in the most affected areas to undertake relief, evacuation and logistic support operations. The operations include provision of medical aid, according to Indian Naval Commanding centre here on Friday.

The ships are equipped with divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material which include food, tents, clothes, medicines, blankets, etc. in abundant quantities.

The Eastern Naval Command is monitoring the developments closely and is in constant communication with the State Administration to augment the rescue and relief operations. Six aircrafts are standing by at the Naval Air Station INS Dega to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material to the stranded. Additionally, 30 diving teams and four platoons with additional relief material are ready to be pressed into action at short notice.

Meanwhile, the district administration in Vizianagaram district is all set to evacuate people from coastal areas as the Hudhud cyclone is poised to strike the eastern coast with high wind velocity. The officials at the mandal level have made all arrangements to evacuate as many as 24,000 people from 21 villages under Bogapuram and Pusapati Rega mandals. District Collector M M Nayak held a review meeting with the officials and directed them to evacuate people from coastal areas.

People from low-lying areas too are being evacuated to relief camps, according to Parvathipuram Su-Collector Swetha Mahanti. The Janmabhoom programme, scheduled to be held on October 10 and 11, have been cancelled, the collector said.

High alert has been sounded in Srikakulam district. Hudhud cyclone is threatening to hit the district which witnessed widespread destruction when Phailin cyclone struck it last year. The cyclone, which is expected to make a landfall by Sunday afternoon, is likely intensify further and winds gusting up to 130 Kmph to 140 Kmph are likely to strike the district.

The district administration has made all arrangements to evacuate people from coastal and low-lying areas. The cyclone impact can be severe in 16 mandals and the administration has posted special officers in these areas. Efforts are being made to evacuate people 78 villages which are vulnerable to high tides hitting them. Two teams National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have already been deployed.

East Godavari on high alert
Kakinada: The East Godavari district administration is on high alert on Friday as severe cyclone Hudhud is poised to hit north coastal districts.

The administration is in a state of preparedness with men and material to evacuate people from vulnerable areas. The officials have already alerted the people to move safe places. The officials appealed to the people in coastal areas to cooperate with the official machinery in evacuating people to relief camps.

District Collector Neetu Prasad on Friday visited Tuni Kotanaduru, Rowthalpudi and Thondangi, U.kothapalli mandals and held review meetings with officials. She directed the officials to immediately shift the people from the coastal areas to safer places and organise relief camps.

Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa held review meeting with officials in Amalupruam Division. He cautioned the officials to be on alert and deploy fire personnel also in vulnerable areas and not to allow the tourists near the sea.

Two teams consisting of 45 members each of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were deployed in East Godavari district, one at Tuni and other at Kakainda .

In addition to these medical teams veterinary teams and the JCBs and generators have also been kept ready