Visakhapatnam moves to meet cyclone threat

As the very severe cyclone Hudhud is approaching the coast and expected to cross the coast here on Sunday afternoon, the District Administration is taking all precautions to minimise the damage.

“We have to assure no loss of human or animal life”, Collector N. Yuvaraj said at a press conference here late on Friday afternoon while giving details of the precautions being taken. “By tonight all commodities, drinking water and generators will be stocked up at the places vulnerable to the cyclone… power generators will be ready at the water supply points to ensure pumping of drinking water since power break down is one casualty we can expect due to such a severe cyclone,” Mr. Yuvaraj said.

People living in 57 villages on the coast from Bheemunipatnam to Payakaraopeta, numbering around 35,000 will be evacuated to safer places.

Six teams of NDRF, each having 40 members have been received and the men will be sent to 15 to 18 spots and 15 teams from the Navy, with a total force of 60 along with their boats, 230 Army personnel with 36 vehicles, along with the personnel of the State Disaster Response Force are being deployed at vulnerable places.

The Navy is ready to press into service five of its helicopters and add three more if needed.

The DRDA has called up eight lakh people to alert them about the cyclone and SMS are also being sent.

To ensure communication is not disrupted satellite phones are being used along with Police Department’s VHF sets. At some points on the highway, earth moving equipment, crane and power cutters are being placed. Stocks of petrol, diesel, kerosene and LPG are provided in mandal headquarters.

District level officers are made in charge of every mandal and the village level officials, Sarpanches and other people’s representatives were asked to make people aware of the cyclone and the safety steps. In charge Municipal Commissioner Pravin Kumar said at an official meeting that 30,000 people would be evacuated.

The vulnerable areas identified are: Sheelanagar, Peda Gantyada, Jodugullapalem, Ganeshnagar, Bakkannapalem, Surytejanagar, Swatantranagar, Rushikonda, Annanagar, Pedajalaripeta, Vasavanipalem, Kalyannagar, Venkojipalem, Manchala Veedhi, Madha Veedhi, Velmapeta, Prasad Gardens, Bhupeshnagar, Kobbarithota, Bhimili Thota Veedhi, Sangivalasa Colony and areas at Anakapalle.