New Delhi, Oct 11/Nationalturk – The two Southern State of India – Odisha and Andhra Pradesh – are bracing for “very severe” cyclone Hudhud.
The cyclone is currently 330 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 380 km south-southeast of Odisha’s Gopalpur; it has a wind speed of 120-130 kilometres per hour.
According to NASA forecast, the cyclone will intensify to around 100 knots (185 kmps) before it makes a landfall on Sunday afternoon.
Cyclone Hudhud was upgraded to “very severe” cyclonic storm by Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). It has warned that the sea condition would be “rough to very rough” from today morning in coastal areas. “It would gradually become phenomenal from Sunday morning”.
“The cyclone is expected to make landfall around Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday before noon,” according to IMD.
Thousands of people in coastal areas evacuated
Authorities have evacuated thousands of people from the coastal areas of the two states to safer places. Besides, the respective State government have also put in place contingency measures to be taken during the cyclone.
In both the states, where cyclone is likely to hit, relief camps have been set up and essentials including food, water and medicines have been stocked to ensure that people don’t face shortage of food grains or medicines.
The fishermen in coastal areas of the two states have already been asked to suspend fishing operations from Saturday morning.
Media reports said 30 teams of Indian Navy, along with two columns of Army have been kept on stand-by to help in relief and rescue operations.
The weather department has warned that heavy rainfall and strong winds are likely to disrupt electricity and telecommunications services, and road and rail traffic. To avoid a breakdown in communication, the authorities have been equipped with satellite phones while the police will resort to very high frequency or VHF sets.
A year ago, a severe cyclone named Phailin battered the same region. The strong disaster preparedness, including the evacuation of nearly one million people to cyclone shelters, helped avert the losses.
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