Large waves hit the beach ahead of Cyclone Hudhud's expected landfall in Visakhapatnam on Sunday (Agence France-Presse photo)
Thousands have been evacuated from the coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh as Hudhud, a very severe cyclonic storm, races towards the state and neighbouring Odisha. The cyclone has picked up speed - from 120-130 kilometres per hour or kmph to 155-165 kmph - and could hit the coast at a wind speed of 170-180 kmph, according to the Met department.
Here are the latest developments:
The cyclone is expected to make landfall around Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday before noon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting today to review preparedness for the approaching cyclone and asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to remain in touch with chief ministers of states likely to be affected by the cyclone.
20 teams of the National Disaster Response Force or NDRF have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh. The state government has asked for four more teams; two will be deployed in Visakhapatnam, and one each in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram.
As many as 396 'cyclone-prone' villages in five coastal districts - Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari - have been identified in Andhra Pradesh. Over 3.9 lakh people will be evacuated and shifted to 370 relief camps in the state. 54 boats have been kept on stand-by, 30 of them of the Indian Navy, and the authorities have 15 satellite phones to avoid a breakdown in communication.
Authorities in East and West Godavari districts - apprehensive that the cyclone could result in flooding - are drawing up a plan to tackle such an eventuality.
Evacuations have also started in Odisha, where 16 teams of the National Disaster Relief Force have been deployed. 300 temporary centres have also been set up while all local schools have been shut. People living near the coast are being urged to move to cyclone shelters.
Hudhud was classified as a "very severe cyclonic storm" yesterday. The Met department has warned that the sea condition would be "rough to very rough" from today in these districts. "It would gradually become phenomenal from Sunday morning", warns the bulletin.
The East Coast Railway has decided to cancel the services of 38 trains on the Bhubaneswar-Visakhapatnam route from 6 am tomorrow. "We do not want even a single casualty," said a railway official, adding, "The entire section would be closed to all mail, express and passenger trains".
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has already discussed preparedness with the chief ministers of the two states and also that of Telangana and offered the Centre's help. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked for additional satellite phones as the telecom network is expected to be affected when the cyclone hits the coast.
The Met department warns that heavy rainfall and strong winds are likely to disrupt electricity and telecommunications services, and road and rail traffic.
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