At least three persons died in Odisha as the very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud hit the coast in north Andhra Pradesh at noon today, triggering heavy rain and gusty winds in the southern and coastal parts.
About 1.56 lakh people were evacuated to safety ahead of the storm making landfall but three deaths have been reported in the state under the impact of Hudhud, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) PK Mohapatra said, adding that the system was still active over Odisha and was likely to cross over to Chhattisgarh later tonight.
The deceased have been identified as Puja Mallick (6) and Hemant Mallick (11) of Magarkanda village in Kendrapara district and 42-year-old fisherman Sudulu Goraya of Penthakata in Puri district, Mohapatra said.
Mohapatra said that there has not been much damage so far in the storm but scores of trees and electricity poles have been knocked over in the Potangi area of Koraput district as the system passed through the region after making landfall near Visakhapatnam.
"There is no report of damage to any major installations," he said.
But he added that "the state government cannot conclude anything now. We will be in a position to give details as to the damage only after the system crosses the state border into Chhattishgarh".
As a precautionary step, the state government evacuated a total of 1,56,169 people in nine districts, putting them in 1,690 shelter homes.
"We may go for further evacuation if there is a flood-like situation due to heavy rainfall under the influence of the cyclone," Mohapatra said.
He said that the state government had to make special efforts to get the tribal people, mostly from the Bonda and Didia communities, to leave their dwellings and move to safety.
As most of the southern region received heavy to medium rainfall during the day, the state government apprehended floods in rivers like Bansadhara and Rusikulya. However, the water level in the two rivers was below danger levels.
With IMD having predicted that the system would move to Chhattishgarh, Odisha government apprehend flow of floodwater into the Hirakud reservoir. The state government is maintaining a water level of 625-ft at the dam against its reservoir level of 630-ft.
Asked which was the worst-hit district in the state, Mohapatra said, "Gajapati is the worst affected as it is on the border with Andhra Pradesh. The highest number of 56,949 people were evacuated in the district."
The wind speed would remain within 60kmph when it crosses over Maithili and Khairput block in Malkangiri district, Mohapatra added.
