AP braces for the storm

Hudhud will peak to around 195 kmph before landfall near Vizag today

4 lakh evacuated from 5 coastal districts

• High alert in 64 mandals comprising 436 villages in five districts
• Highest warning signal has been hoisted at the ports in region
• 54 rescue boats deployed with 689 swimmers for quick relief
• Around 370 relief camps have been opened in the five districts
• Relief material, food & medicine kept ready
• Hudhud is the Arabic name for the hoopoe bird

Hyderabad: With a very severe Cyclone Hudhud hurtling towards Andhra Pradesh to make a landfall near Visakhapatnam on Sunday afternoon, with winds gusting up to 195 kmph, the Andhra Pradesh government is taking no chances and is shifting people from vulnerable areas to safe shelters.

Already over 4 lakh people were evacuated from the low-lying areas in the five coastal districts to safe places by Saturday afternoon. The government has made arrangements to evacuate 5,14,725 people in all, officials said, while the Army and the Navy have kept their personnel on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.

The northern coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam and adjoining coastal district of East Godavari are bracing for 'very severe' cyclonic storm which is located about 230 km southeast of Visakhapatnam.

Fishing operations have been suspended while highest warning signal has been hoisted at the ports in the region. The cyclone, which lay centred 250 km southwest of Visakhapatnam and 340 km south-southeast of Gopalpur at 2.30 pm, will attain speed of 170-180 kmph around 5.30 am on Sunday with winds gusting up to 195 kmph, a bulletin issued by the Indian Meteorological Department said. The National Crisis Management Committee in New Delhi took stock of the preparedness of various state and central government agencies to deal with the cyclone.

The Andhra Pradesh government is constantly monitoring the situation and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu that the administration was fully geared up to meet the challenge. The tropical cyclone Hudhud is expected to intensify and peak to around 100 knots (185 kmph) before landfall near Visakhapatnam, according to forecasts based on NASA data show. NASA's Aqua satellite data showed the coldest cloud top temperatures were in thunderstorms. Cloud top temperatures were as cold as -53 degree Celsius, which have the potential for dropping heavy rainfall.

Hudhud's maximum sustained winds were nearer to 75 knots (138.9 kmph). Forecasters at the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) of the US Navy indicated that bands of thunderstorms have become more tightly wrapped into the low-level centre. In addition, micro-wave satellite data revealed an eye in the storm.

The State Disaster Management Authority has positioned nearly 54 boats with 689 swimmers. Thirteen teams of National Disaster Response Teams (NDRF) were fanned and stationed at the strategic locations in the cyclone prone districts. Speaking to the Hans India, the Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam said that it has already positioned four ships on standby to meet any eventuality.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu urged the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to provide satellite pictures as this will help the state in better planning of rescue and relief operations. Fifteen satellite phones will be used by the officials monitoring rescue and relief operations.

Chief Secretary I Y R Krishna Rao said BSNL and other telecom service providers were urged to issue cyclone alerts to people living in coastal areas. Airtel has set up a special helpline 1949 to give information about their last location details.

Round-the-clock control rooms have been opened at Andhra Pradesh secretariat in Hyderabad. The numbers are 040 - 23456005 and 23450419. To track the whereabouts of people who might have gone missing, the District Collectors said they have made arrangements to stock fuel, drinking water, food, medicines and other essential commodities for rescue and relief operations.

As a precautionary measure, the railways have cancelled over 60 trains and diverted many others in view of the cyclone. Authorities have closed Ichapuram-Kakinada national highway for traffic. Kakinada-Uppada highway in East Godavari district was damaged as water gushed out of sea due to high waves inundated the road.

Officials said 370 relief camps have been opened in five districts. Sixty four cyclone prone mandals comprising 436 villages in five districts in the state were put on high alert. About 1.85 lakh people will be sheltered in 110 camps in Srikakulam district. Nearly one lakh people will be evacuated in West Godavari district and over 72,000 in East Godavari district.

The state government has further requested the Indian Air Force, to position additional number of helicopters from Yelahanka, near Bangalore as stand by at Visakhapatnam. A request was also made to the Indian Army to station additional columns of army personnel at Visakhapatnam, besides the two columns which were already on standby at Visakhapatnam.

A similar request was placed before the Commodore of Chief Staff Officer Operations of ENC at Visakhapatnam.
Civil supplies department has been directed to stock sufficient quantities of all essential commodities and fuel. Public Health and Water Supply department will monitor drinking water supply channels in the five disaster prone districts. Besides, the medical and health department have been told to ensure that sufficient number of medical teams and medicines were kept ready.