Three Killed As Cyclone Hudhud Makes Landfall In India

CYC

At least three people have been confirmed dead and hundreds of thousands evacuated from parts of eastern India as Cyclone Hudhud made landfall in India with winds gusting up to 195 kms an hour.

The port city of Visakhapatnam was the worst hit with television footage showing extensive damage.

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The country’s meteorological department said that after making landfall the cyclone will maintain its intensity before weakening into a deep depression after about six hours.

Heavy rainfall and strong gusts of wind are expected in the northern coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, which includes Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari along with the southern districts of Orissa.

Disaster relief agencies had evacuated more than 150,000 people on Saturday. Strong winds uprooted trees, knocked out power supplies and suspended transport and telecommunication services in and around Visakhapatnam.

India’s meteorological department predicted more damage in the coastal states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with the storm expected to lash the coastline for the next few hours.

A storm surge of 1-2 meters above high tide is also forecast, which could result in flooding in some areas.

Officials stockpiled emergency supplies and rescue workers were on standby along the coastlines of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha states on Saturday.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called a high-level emergency meeting to review the arrangements made in preparation of the storm.

Officials said four naval ships and nine air force helicopters were on standby for relief and rescue operations, while army soldiers and federal rescue workers were also on hand.

The Indian Ocean is a cyclone hot spot. Of the 35 deadliest storms in recorded history, 27 have come through the Bay of Bengal – and have landed in either India or Bangladesh.

In 1999, a cyclone devastated Odisha’s coastline and killed at least 10,000 people.