JAGAN MOHAN REDDY TO TOUR AFFECTED AREAS
VISAKHAPATNAM/ BHUBANESWAR: Rescue operations were underway in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on Monday after a severe cyclone pounded the eastern coast, leaving 24 people dead and a trail of destruction in its wake.
A day after cyclone Hudhud hit Visakhapatnam, the sun was out and there were no signs of Sunday’s fury when winds of up to 200 kilometres per hour and heavy rains lashed the port city.
Authorities worked to restore communication lines, removing trees and electric poles and were trying to get air and train services back on track after strong winds damaged railroads and the airport.
People queued up at petrol pumps and outside ATMS and stores to buy essential commodities such as milk, candles and kerosene. “We need at least 100 years to rebuild our beautiful city,” said a worker, cutting an uprooted tree outside the collectorate. Relief teams were working round the clock to restore essential services by Tuesday, Visakhapatnam district collector N Yuvraj said. The government is using Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp to reach out to people.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababa Naidu, who has decided to camp in the city to oversee relief operations, said all possible support would be given to those affected. “I like Visakhapatnam very much. It is painful to see the city in this condition,” he said after visiting some of the affected areas.
PM VISIT ON TUESDAY Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Visakhapatnam on Tuesday to take stock of the damage caused by the cyclone, whose intensity went to “severe” from “very severe” after wind speeds had dropped to 110 kmph by Sunday evening.
“Will visit Visakhapatnam tomorrow and take stock of the situation,” the PM tweeted.
The defence ministry said four ships were set to sail to the coast, carrying relief material for 5,000 people, and about 24 diving teams.
As many as five lakh people had taken shelter in relief camps, said chief secretary Parakala Prabhakar. The ongoing Indiawest Indies cricket series was also affected with the calling off the fourth match that was to be played at Visakhapatnam. HYDERABAD: YSR Congress Party President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will tour the cyclone-ravaged areas of north coastal Andhra Pradesh from Tuesday and oversee the relief and rehabilitation works.
The Leader of Opposition in the Assembly will leave for Rajahmundry, East Godavar district on Tuesday en route to Visakhapatnam, which was hit by the cyclone ‘Hudhud’ yesterday Owing to the natural calamity, the Oppositionpartyhasalsopostponed its October 16 state-wide protest pro gramme over delay in implementa tion of waiver of farm loans. “Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy will leave for Rajahmundry and reach Vizag in whatever mode of transport that is available and tour the battered Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts. “He will stay put there to oversee the relief and rehabilitation works, meet the affected families and help them get faster relief,” senior YSRC leader Dharmana Prasada Rao said.
RAJNATH TELLS 6 CMS TO PREPARE FOR HEAVY RAIN Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday spoke to chief ministers of Bihar Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. He assured them of full support from the Centre to deal with heavy rains and asked them to be fully prepared after passing of the cyclone Hudhud that has claimed 17 lives so far The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), headed by Cabinet secretary, also met to take a stock of the damage caused in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.