At least 400,000 people have been evacuated in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
The South Central Railway pitched in to provide cyclone relief centres - positioning four trains with 55 empty coaches at four key stations in a first-of-its-kind effort. The railways kept 15 coaches at Samalkot, 16 at Tuni, six at Kakinada and 18 in Rajahmundry. (Read:
Visakhapatnam Worst Hit, Heavier Rain to Follow, Says Met Department)
The railway stations, institutes and community halls were also opened to the public as storm shelters - especially those between Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam.
While Vishakhapatnam is the worst hit by Cyclone Hudhud, the East Godavari Distict is one of the three other districts that have been massively affected. (Read:
Three Killed as Cyclone Hudhud Crosses Andhra Pradesh Coast)
Railway station buildings at key stations like Rajahmundry, Samalkot, Kakinada, Annavaram, Tuni and Anakapalli are also serving as temporary shelters.
"These special measures are aimed to meet the needs of the passengers and also the locally displaced railway employees and the general public in case of any emergency," the Railways said in a statement.
The South Central Railway has cancelled 62 trains, curtailed five and diverted 51 trains.
At least 400,000 people have been evacuated from the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The evacuation effort is comparable to the one that preceded Cyclone Phailin last year. (Watch:
5 Images of the Pounding Rain, Winds)