End of updates for 14 October 8:35 pm: Relief camps opened for cyclone victims in Jharkhand Several relief camps have been set up in two blocks of Hazaribagh district to provide food and medicines to the people who lost their homes following the cyclonic storm that hit the areas. We have opened several relief camps at Chouparan and Katkumsandi blocks to distribute food, medicines, clothes and blankets to the affected people, Deputy Commissioner Sunil Kumar said here. A total of 258 houses were damaged in three villages of Chouparan and 35 in Katkumsandi blocks, he said, adding all the affected people were given shelter in schools and Anganvadi centres. The administration has begun a detailed survey to assess the losses incurred due to storm, he said. -PTI 8.05 pm: Congress MP wants Hudhud to be declared a national calamity, demands Rs 2000 crore-aid Congress Rajya Sabha MP T Subbarami Reddy demanded that Hudhud be declared a national calamity and sought central assistance of Rs 2,000 crore for Andhra Pradesh, reported PTI. Declare the devastation caused by Hudhud as a national calamity and involve National Disaster Management to immediately take necessary relief measures, he told the PM in his letter. A lump sum ad hoc assistance of Rs 2,000 crore should be given to provide immediate relief to cyclone victims and restore services and bring life to normalcy, Reddy said in the letter. 7.22 pm: Andhra power utilities working to restore electricity by tonight Andhra Pradesh power utilities are expecting to partially restore supply of electricity in the Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts by tonight. Vehicles move through a flooded road next to the trees fallen over railway tracks after being damaged by Cyclone Hudhud. Reuters Vehicles move through a flooded road next to the trees fallen over railway tracks after being damaged by Cyclone Hudhud. Reuters All efforts are being made to provide power supply by midnight today in parts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, an Energy department official said, according to PTI. We are expecting by midnight power supply be restored to some parts in these three districts, he said. 6.43 pm: Andhra CM unhappy with low efficiency of relief efforts Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu expressed anger over different agencies for not being quick enough to provide assistance in the aftermath of cyclone Hudhud hitting the state. Naidu said everyone must get their act right to provide expeditious relief, reported PTI. I am a bit harsh with the agencies here. I told telephones (service providers) also...It should come by evening. Not just coming, their behaviour is also not good. I have given a warning. For that matter, I have given a warning to all. I have gone to the extent, none should misunderstand me, if anyone does not come for my meeting, I said we will send police. That is the order I have given, he said. It is a question of service. People are in trouble. People are in distress. It is our duty to do our best. It is not done if it is said that we will be keen on earning profits or we will give advertisements and we will not do any service. All should come. We will be having a meeting in the evening at nine, he added. I have made all efforts that I could do. I am sorry to say this. I did not expect that the (telecom) operators would be so negligent. I got some reports, I am thinking of writing to their managements. Before cyclone, I called everybody in Hyderabad, Naidu said, adding, that companies should have taken all precautions. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the city today, was very much concerned about the damages caused by the cyclone. The PM is very much concerned. Cabinet Secretary held review for at least seven-eight times. I worked as CM for long. But this is probably first time in the history. But no action at the lower level, he said. 6.22 pm: Hudhud victims lathicharged, cyclone death toll at 22 Cyclone Hudhud victims were lathicharged in Visakhapatnam by police as there was a rush to the supplies of relief material in the city. Cost of petrol in the city is at Rs 100 per litre and long queues outside petrol pumps are a common sight, according to reports. Essential goods were in short supply as arterial roads were impassable and bus, train and flights were suspended. Moreover, the death toll rose to 22, according to AFP. “We feel we’re travelling back in time, so many commodities we take for granted are lost now—it will take some time to recover,” a woman told CNN-IBN. On the other hand, Congress leader Abishek Manu Singhvi said in a tweet, Hudhud, this nice Sufi name, changed vizags face so much that even its denizens cannot recognise it. Singhvi posted two more tweets on Twitter on Hudhud. 4.41 pm: Food Minister says Centre ready to supply foodgrains to affected areas Amidst shortage of essential food items in the cyclone-hit Andhra Pradesh, the Centre on Tuesday said it is ready to supply foodgrains to the affected region. We are ready to provide all kind of support to the cyclone-affected areas. We have foodgrains stock. We are ready to supply foodgrains immediately if the state government demands, Food Minister Paswan said on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi, according to PTI. When asked about the steps the government is taking to stop hoarders who are creating artificial scarcity of essential commodities in the cyclone-hit region, Paswan said: Under the Food Ministry, all possible action will be taken. After the devastation caused by Cyclone Hudhud, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh has been hit by shortage of essential food items with people scrambling for milk, drinking water, vegetables and petrol even as the power supply is yet to be restored. 4.10 pm: Fall out of cyclone causes rain in Bihar, Rajasthan Patna and rest of Bihar experienced light to moderate rainfall as impact of Hudhud cyclone, Director State Meteorology department R K Giri told PTI. The weather situation would continue like this till tomorrow and some districts in North and Northwest of the state like Champaran, Muzaffarpur and Siwan could witness heavy rainfall tomorrow, Giri said. The state MeT department director said that wind blew in the state at an average speed of 20-25 km per hour. According to weather office, Patna recorded 2.3 mm of rain in the last 24 hours till 8 am in the morning. Fall out of Cyclone Hudhud caused rainfall in Bihar and Rajasthan. Reuters Fall out of Cyclone Hudhud caused rainfall in Bihar and Rajasthan. Reuters The fall out of the cyclone also caused unusual rains in Rajasthan, causing the night temperature to dip by one to three degrees in areas across the state, the MET department has said. Squall accompanied by drizzles to light rains occurred in north of Rajasthan specially in Hanumangarh, Churu, Alwar, Bharatpur and Kota district since last night, the MeT official BN Vishnoi said. Bundi recorded a maximum rainfall of 39 mm, while walled city Jaipur recorded 2 mm, he said adding, drizzles and rains were experienced at many places in the state. 3.31 pm: Modi announces interim aid of Rs 1000 crores Lauding the Andhra Pradesh government and the Centre for providing relief measures in the wake of Cyclone Hudhud, PM Narendra Modi announced Rs 1000 crore-aid for the cyclone affected areas in Andhra Pradesh by the Centre. Interim aid of Rs 1000 crores will be given to the cyclone-affected areas by the Centre, said the Prime Minister. Modi further said that aid of Rs 2 lakh will be given to kin of deceased and Rs 50,000 will given to the injured. Andhra government and the Centre have worked with perfect co-ordination during the last five days, said Modi. Technology used by IMD saved many lives, he added. Modi further assured that the centre and Andhra Pradesh government would do everything in their power for further assistance. PM Narendra Modi announced interim relief of Rs 1000 crores for Andhra Pradesh. AFP PM Narendra Modi announced interim relief of Rs 1000 crores for Andhra Pradesh. AFP He told reporters that the central government will send a team for a detailed survey of the losses, according to IANS. Fifteen days ago I was excited over my dream to make it a smart city. Suddenly this crisis has come. I am confident we will overcome this crisis, he said. He praised the weather department for using latest technology to issue advance warning and in making correct predictions with regard to velocity, direction and timing of the cyclone. Modi said for five days both the central and Andhra governments worked in perfect coordination which helped to minimize the loss of lives. This proves that when the centre and state work shoulder to shoulder and in the right direction, they can overcome challenges however big they may be, he said. Modi said farmers also suffered huge losses as their crops were destroyed. Noting losses to public property, he told insurance companies to send officials to Visakhapatnam and sympathetically process the claims at the earliest. 2.15 pm: Naidu says damage due to cyclone cost thousands of crores Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said Cyclone Hudhud caused damage worth thousands of crores in Visakhapatnam and other storm-hit areas of the coast. Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Limited alone is estimated to have suffered a loss of Rs 40,000 crore. About 16,000 electric poles were knocked down by cyclone fury that also left around 6,000 transformers damaged. Damages to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (Vizag steel plant) were estimated at Rs 1,000 crore, Indian Navy Rs 2,000 crore, Andhra University Rs 300 crore and Vizag airport Rs 500 crore, Naidu said. Its a huge loss. Its a loss that we could not expect. I will explain to the Prime Minister today. It is not an ordinary loss. Roughly, Navy suffered about Rs 2,000 crores. I am thinking whether we can give a representation to PM or not. Because, if I give a low estimate then you may say that a low estimate is given, Naidu said. We are procuring tankers from East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts. By evening, all would be able to take bath, he added. Some people are selling essential items at high prices. It is not fair to try to exploit the situation. We have taken a decision to provide packages of food items in all cyclone-hit areas, he said. 1.49 pm: Modi arrives at Vizag airport Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Visakhapatnam to inspect the cyclone-hit areas and assess the situation. Modi landed at the Vizag airport and was accompanied by Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Minister of Urban Development M Venkaiah Naidu. 12.54 pm: Visakhapatnam scrambles for drinking water, essential commodities After the devastation caused by Cyclone Hudhud, the port city of Visakhapatnam has been hit by shortage of essential commodities with people scrambling for milk, drinking water, vegetables and petrol even as power supply remains to be restored. Some residents complained that they are not getting drinking water and milk. Serpentine queues were seen at petrol stations, where people have milled around for refill. A resident pleaded with folded hands: For people of Visakhapatnam, please give drinking water and other essential commodities. I have not seen such a worst situation in my life. Power lines and a passenger bus show the damage that cyclone Hudhud caused. Reuters Power lines and a passenger bus show the damage that cyclone Hudhud caused. Reuters The drinking water and milk costing Rs 20 (each) are being sold for Rs 50 as black-marketeers are having a field day, an angry resident said. Visakhapatnam, a picture of destruction since the day it was hit by the cyclone that claimed 15 lives in the district, has been struggling to return to normalcy, though streets strewn with uprooted trees and branches, electric poles, cables and other rubble have been cleared to a large extent. The Visakhapatnam airport has been damaged with passenger terminals ravaged and the roof blown away. The fishing harbour here also bore the brunt of the cyclone fury with scores of boats getting sunk and damaged, officials said. Asked about the complaints of shortage of essential commodities in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu termed it as an artificial scarcity. By the evening, I want to bring normalcy. By Wednesday morning, everybody should have all essential commodities, including milk, water, everything, he told reporters in Visakhapatnam. 12.15 pm: Modi, Patnaik to undertake aerial survey of Odisha Prime Minister Modi, who is scheduled to visit Visakhapatnam for a first hand assessment of the situation in Andhra Pradesh, is also slated to make an aerial survey over southern Odisha districts hit by the cyclone. The Odisha chief minister is also slated to conduct an aerial survey of the Hudhud-affected areas of the state during the day, sources in the chief ministers office said today. Patnaik will fly over the five districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur and Gajapati. The chief minister is also scheduled to hold a review meeting at Koraput to take stock of the situation today, sources said. 08.50 am: PM Modi to undertake aerial survey today Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Visakhapatnam today to review the situation in the aftermath of cyclone Hudhud that has claimed 21 lives and left a trail of destruction in coastal Andhra Pradesh. The Prime Minister will visit Visakhapatnam and undertake an aerial survey of the city in the afternoon, according to Parakala Prabhakar, Advisor (Communications) to the Andhra Pradesh government. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is already camping in the port city to oversee the relief operations, is expected to brief the Prime Minister on the massive damage caused by the cyclone. 08.20 am: Heavy rain lashes Chhattisgarh over last 24 hours Cyclone Hudhuds effect resulted in continuous rains in Chhattisgarh as average rainfall of over 27 mm was recorded in the state during the last 24 hours. As per reports of rainfall collected from the district headquarters, average rainfall of 27.5mm has been recorded in the state since Sunday, a Revenue and Disaster Management Department official said. The average rainfall this year from June 1 to October 13 has been recorded to be 1142.9mm, the official said. - PTI
Posted on: Thu, 16 Oct 2014 02:54:10 +0000
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