VISAKHAPATNAM: Heavy rain and strong winds have lashed Vizag as the cyclonic storm Hudhud made a landfall on Andhra Pradesh coast. The outer edge of the cyclone crossed land at around 10am and the eye of the storm crossed the city around noon. Cyclone Hudhud : Helpline numbers Trees, electric poles have been uprooted at various places in the city with wind speed touching almost 200kmph. K Seetharam, director IMD Hyderabad, has warned that there will be more destruction in the next two to three hours. Meanwhile, two people were killed in separate rain-related incidents in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts of coastal Andhra Pradesh as the very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud triggered heavy downpour in the region. One person was killed when the compound wall of a building collapsed in Visakhaptnam district. Another person died in Srikakulam district when a tree collapsed following pounding rains, according to state disaster management department. The strong winds and heavy rains led to large-scale disruption of power lines in three coastal districts of AP. Based on observations at around 10.15 am, IMD Hyderabad centre director K Seetharam said the eye of Hudhud is located 45-50 km from Vizag city and the storm moving in the north westerly direction. “The eye of the storm will make landfall between Bheemili and Vizag city around noon at wind speeds of as high as 200 kmph. The upper layer has already crossed land city and we are waiting for the eye to hit land,” Seetharam told TOI. Strong winds of over 150 kmph began lashing the ‘City of Destiny’ right from the wee hours of Sunday, throwing life completely out of gear and virtually shutting the city down. Huge waves began pounding the Vizag coast from morning. The strong howling winds wreaked havoc in the city, sending hoardings flying, shattering glass windows of buildings, damaging mud houses in the city and uprooting several trees and electricity poles across the city, disrupting power supply and forcing people to remain locked up indoors. Phone connectivity too has been hit with phone lines down and mobile signals erratic. “This is the worst ever cyclone. Wind speeds have been increasing by the hour, sending apartments rocking and uprooting most avenue trees. Hoardings are flying like saucers. Everyone is locked up inside their houses. I cannot imaging the plight of those living in low-lying areas and shanties,” said KS Narayana, a Vizag-based developer describing scenes of destruction unfolding in the Port City. “All the big trees inside the State Bank of India compound opposite my house have been uprooted. I have never seen anything like this before,” said another Vizagite Uma Raju Sagi. All trains and flights have been cancelled and road traffic too has come to a grinding halt as the arterial National Highway 16, which connects Chennai to Kolkata and passes through the city, was shut down from 7.30 pm on Saturday to brace for the cyclonic impact and minimize loss of life and property. Source : The Times of India
