Cyclone Hudhud: Relief workers from Odisha to help Vizag recover from disaster

, Oct 15: More than 500 relief workers are involved in day and night works to restore power and clear roadblocks in cyclone-hit Vizashakhapatnam.

AN IBN report says that hundreds of rescue workers from Odisha have come to the coastal city to assist relief works. "We are helping Andhra Pradesh just like they helped us in 1999," said a rescue worker, as quoted by IBN.

On Tuesday, the South Central Railway restored rail route to Vizag and the train services have resumed. However, the communication networks are yet to be restored. Most of the mobile phones of users in Vizag aren't reachable.

The Vizag airport was also destroyed in the cyclone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the disaster hit area and conducted an aerial survey.

The PM on Tuesday announced an interim relief of Rs 1,000 crore for the state. He also announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia to the next of the kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 for those injured in the cyclone Hudhud. "We stand shoulder to shoulder with our sisters & brothers suffering due to Cyclone Hudhud. Their tragedy & grief is as much ours", tweeted Modi.

The residents, deprived of basics essentials like water, power and food for three days in a row, have raised criticism against the authorities. Some people have even resorted to violence and looting of relief trucks.

The prices of water and milk have gone up aggressively and one packet of water in the city costs around Rs 250 now.

Vegetables, rice and other commodities are being sold at double and triple their original prices. Fuel shortage has aggravated the problems of the victims who are queuing up in front of petrol pumps.

Oneindia News