Cyclone Hudhud: 5 die in AP

, Oct 12: Five persons were killed in different rain-related incidents as severe cyclonic storm Hudhud left behind a trail of destruction in the north coastal districts of

today.

Of the five casualties, three have been reported in the worst-hit Visakhapatnam district and one each occurred in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts, the disaster management department of Andhra Pradesh government said in a release late tonight.

About 2.50 lakh people were affected by the cyclone and over 1.35 lakh people have been evacuated to safer places, it said. Six people have been rescued by the rescue and relief teams, it said. The cyclone caused massive damages in the four coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam.

The port city of Visakhapatnam bore the brunt of the nature's fury with the power and communication systems suffering extensive damages and even the airport in the city has also been affected. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has decided to oversee rescue and relief operations in Visakhapatnam, reached Rajahmundry in neighbouring East Godavari district tonight. Naidu, who spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the day, sought a financial assistance of Rs 2,000 crore and urged that the tragedy be declared a national calamity.

PTI