Hudhud toll rises to 21

Visakhapatnam: The Hudhud hurricane which devastated the entire coastal city of Visakhapatnam on Sunday has left tens of thousands homeless and badly battered the infrastructure in nearly a dozen districts. The port city of Visakhapatnam resembles a war zone.

As many as 21 people were killed and thousands of houses damaged by the cyclone which left the Steel City shattered. Earlier, the toll was put at three on Sunday. Fifteen people died in Visakhapatnam, 5 in Vizianagaram and one in Srikakulam due to wall collapse and falling of trees. Paddy and banana groves were totally damaged. The AP government has announced Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia for kin of deceased and Rs 1 lakh for those who are seriously injured. Rs 25,000 for loss of cattle and Rs 5,000 for loss of fishing nets and damage to houses have also been announced.

On Monday, Visakhapatnam woke up to find the streets littered with fallen trees, banners ripped out, broken statues of leaders and many telephone and electricity poles down. Residents complained that they couldn't even walk on the roads to fetch essential supplies. A full assessment of the damage is being done, the government said.

For second day, people continued to be without power, water and milk. As the storm ended on Monday morning, large numbers of people were seen coming out for milk and other essential commodities. However, there was an acute scarcity of milk as the major milk supplier Visakha Dairy did not ensure supplies in the morning. The Visakhapatnam airport also bore the brunt of the cyclone fury with the roof over a portion being blown away due to the gales. However, critical installations are safe. The Indian Navy said both runways at its Vizag air station and INS Dega are fit for flying.

Communication systems and electricity supply remained snapped in the city since Saturday night and people at many places depended on the radio to know the cyclone updates. Vizag which has a sizeable green cover now looks barren with all the huge trees lying prostrate. Even coconut trees could not stand the nature’s fury.

"There is no power, no water or food. We are not getting petrol. We cannot move on the roads. It is difficult to survive a single day here," said a resident. Most of the petrol pumps were closed due to the damage caused by the cyclone and those which opened saw people queuing up in large numbers. Residents complained that vegetables and other food items were in short supply and their prices shot up.

Andhra University, which suffered extensive damages due to the super cyclone Hudhud, announced a holiday for two weeks, said a release by Vice-chancellor Prof GSN Raju.

Ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao and P Narayana said that the top priority for the government was to ensure that affected people get their food supplies and drinking water. About one lakh food packets including curd and butter milk were airlifted to Vizag from Vijayawada. Another one lakh food packets were sent by road from Rajahmundry. In addition, each MLA has been asked to take the responsibility to open common kitchens in affected areas. Narayana said water tankers were being pressed into service to supply drinking water and by Tuesday normal supply through pipeline would be restored.

The state government has appointed five teams of senior IAS officials to supervise the relief operations and to restore communication and other systems. Official sources said that the AP government has asked Odisha and Tamil Nadu government to supply power as Simhadri power plant unit-1 and unit 2 are not working due to cyclone.

Though the government claimed that BSNL land line phones were restored, the lines to sea port and railway station were still not working. With most of the roads cleared of debris and fallen trees, the APSRTC on Monday announced restoration of long distance buses from Hyderabad to Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam-Tekkali- Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram to Visakhapatnam. Tamil Nadu government announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore and will supply material to restore power supply. It will also send a team to Andhra Pradesh, said Chief Minister O Panneerselvam.