 "Cyclone Hudhud damage in AP estimated at Rs 8,000 cr; death toll rises to 24")
Cyclone Hudhud is estimated to have caused a loss of nearly Rs 8,000 crore to both public and private properties. According to initial estimates, loss to roads, horticulture, agriculture and water works is to the tune of Rs 2,000 crore. Thousands of houses are either partially or totally damaged. Several shops and commercial hubs have been destroyed.
P Ram Mohan, director of operations, Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL), told Business Standard that the loss caused to the company by the cyclone was estimated at Rs 800-900 crore. The entire Visakhaptanam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, including the EPDCL office, continues to be in the dark. As many as 7,000 transformers and 11,500 electric poles had been damaged.
Of the 361 sub stations in the three districts, 327 have been affected by the cyclone. It would take a minimum of 20 days to complete restoration of power. EPDCL had engaged 4,000 workers for restoration work, he said. Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada ports resumed cargo handling operations today. The loss caused by high-speed winds to the properties of the ports and major industries like Visakhapatnam Steel and Refinery was yet to be estimated.
On the other hand, Coromandel International Ltd (CIL), belonging to the Murugappa group, informed the BSE that the operations of the company’s unit at Visakhapatnam were stopped due to disruption of power supply. The cyclone had not caused any major damage to the company’s manufacturing facilities and CIL was expecting to resume the production as soon as power supply was restored.
The Visakhapatnam airport bore the brunt of the cyclone. Heavy gales extensively damaged the roof of the airport building and terminal. Flood water has entered the runway, forcing the authorities to suspend all operations. Even railway platforms had been damaged and more than 36 train services were cancelled. All the education institutions remained closed.
There has been no milk supply in Visakhapatnam for the past two days. There is also scarcity of petrol and diesel. Long queues were witnessed at the few filling stations that opened today. Star hotels started booking after a gap of 36 hours.
Reliance Communications sets up call centre
The state unit of Reliance Communications has offered a free call centre number 1949 to help the cyclone-affected to trace the mobile of the customer where it was seen last. The call centre will immediately provide them the last location where this mobile was radiating, before it got switched off. This will help them to know the last seen locations of the person and some action can be taken accordingly. In case the number belongs to some other operator, Reliance will coordinate with the operator and get the details and share with the customer subsequently, according to a company press release.
TN announces Rs 5 crore assistance
Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam has announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to Andhra Pradesh.
The state would also supply equipment like poles, transformers to set right the power distribution infrastructure. Panneerselvam also said a team would be sent to Andhra Pradesh to clear the roads of fallen trees and other obstacles, according to an official release.
P Ram Mohan, director of operations, Eastern Power Distribution Company Limited (EPDCL), told Business Standard that the loss caused to the company by the cyclone was estimated at Rs 800-900 crore. The entire Visakhaptanam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, including the EPDCL office, continues to be in the dark. As many as 7,000 transformers and 11,500 electric poles had been damaged.
Of the 361 sub stations in the three districts, 327 have been affected by the cyclone. It would take a minimum of 20 days to complete restoration of power. EPDCL had engaged 4,000 workers for restoration work, he said. Meanwhile, Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Kakinada ports resumed cargo handling operations today. The loss caused by high-speed winds to the properties of the ports and major industries like Visakhapatnam Steel and Refinery was yet to be estimated.
On the other hand, Coromandel International Ltd (CIL), belonging to the Murugappa group, informed the BSE that the operations of the company’s unit at Visakhapatnam were stopped due to disruption of power supply. The cyclone had not caused any major damage to the company’s manufacturing facilities and CIL was expecting to resume the production as soon as power supply was restored.
A petrol pump is damaged after being hit by Hudhud Cyclone in Vishakapatnam
Airport, railway platforms damagedThe Visakhapatnam airport bore the brunt of the cyclone. Heavy gales extensively damaged the roof of the airport building and terminal. Flood water has entered the runway, forcing the authorities to suspend all operations. Even railway platforms had been damaged and more than 36 train services were cancelled. All the education institutions remained closed.
There has been no milk supply in Visakhapatnam for the past two days. There is also scarcity of petrol and diesel. Long queues were witnessed at the few filling stations that opened today. Star hotels started booking after a gap of 36 hours.
Reliance Communications sets up call centre
The state unit of Reliance Communications has offered a free call centre number 1949 to help the cyclone-affected to trace the mobile of the customer where it was seen last. The call centre will immediately provide them the last location where this mobile was radiating, before it got switched off. This will help them to know the last seen locations of the person and some action can be taken accordingly. In case the number belongs to some other operator, Reliance will coordinate with the operator and get the details and share with the customer subsequently, according to a company press release.
TN announces Rs 5 crore assistance
Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam has announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to Andhra Pradesh.
The state would also supply equipment like poles, transformers to set right the power distribution infrastructure. Panneerselvam also said a team would be sent to Andhra Pradesh to clear the roads of fallen trees and other obstacles, according to an official release.
| Toll rises to 24 |
| Governments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on Monday mounted massive relief efforts to restore communication and power links and clear roads that battered in the powerful cyclone Hudhud, in which the death toll rose to 24. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. (PTI) |