Hudhud promises hell for coastal Odisha, North Andhra

The north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and Visakhapatnam and also adjoining district of East Godavari have been put on a high alert as cyclonic storm 'Hudhud' in Bay of Bengal continued to advance towards Andhra Pradesh coast.

The India Meterological Department (IMD) has issued cyclone warning for north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts. 

The severe cyclonic storm over Bay is moving west-northwestwards and is centered about 530 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 570 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha. The system would move west-northwestwards, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during next 12 hours, the Met department said.

Heavy to very heavy rainfall , squally winds reaching 50-60 kmph along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts have been predicted from Saturday morning. The wind speed would increase to 130-140 kmph from Sunday morning along and off north Andhra coast and 80-90 kmph along and off south Odisha coast.

It also warned that storm surge would  swamp low lying areas of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam. Sea water gushed up to four meters in coastal village of Chintapalli in Vijayanagaram district on Friday morning. 

As the sea conditions will be rough, the met office has suggested suspension of fishing operations. 

In Visakhapatnam, Human Resources Development Minister G. Srinivasa Rao reviewed the situation with officials. He appealed to people to cooperate and follow the advise of the officials. He said a control room has been set up in the office of the district collector. The authorities opened 125 relief camps for the people who would be shifted from low-lying areas.