Cyclone ravages Visakhapatnam
HYDERABAD: The cyclone, with wind speeds reaching up to almost 200 kmph ' unprecedented and unheard of in Visakhapatnam ' made landfall at Pudimadaka close to the steel city around noon.
With power supply cut off since Saturday night, the city and in fact, the entire coastal belt ' from Srikakulam to East Godavari ' had a harrowing time. The entire region, enveloped in darkness, was being battered by heavy rain, even though the cyclone, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), lost some muscle and had crossed Visakhapatnam.
Normal life came to a standstill in the region with people forced to remain indoors. Visakhapatnam was the worst-hit and resembled a ghost city by evening with trees, hoardings and electric poles fallen across almost every street.
The incessant and heavy rain since morning meant poor visibility. There was no vehicular movement anywhere with authorities closing the Kolkata-Chennai NH between Kakinada and Itchapuram.
The administration advised people not to venture out under any circumstances as the wind speed was expected to decrease only late night. P Sunitha, a college student, who was stranded at the KSR Complex in Visakhapatnam with her mother, told, 'We came out to fetch medicines for my grandmother, but got stuck here.'
Tidal waves of about 3-4 metres presented a frightening picture on the Ramakrishna beach and at places, the sea water surged onto the road. The Cyclone Warning Centre in the city was rendered useless with rainwater flooding it.
The telecommunication network almost broke down, even in the city. About 1.34 lakh people in the four badly-hit districts were shifted to 223 relief camps.
Six helicopters were pressed into service and 155 medical camps set up. While no serious damage to property was reported from Odisha, the State was staring at the possibility of flash floods. The very severe cyclonic storm was likely to pass through Koraput and Malkangiri past midnight.
News Posted: 13 October, 2014
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