26 dead in AP, 3 in Odisha, Cyclone Hudhud hits commodity prices too

Visakhapatnam, Oct 14: Its almost 48 hours since the Hudhud storm hit Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. However, these states are far from bouncing back. While 26 people have lost their lives in Andhra Pradesh, 3 are reported to have been killed in Odisha. Close to 4 lakh people have been evacuated from various districts of Odisha. Both have plunged into complete darkness with no electricity, food or transportation.

However, the Vizag airport has been reopened for relief operations.

Cyclone Hudhud has not only hit these aspects of a day to day life, it has also affected the prices of basic commodities. A bottle of water for instance is being sold for Rs 250. ATMs are not working and the petrol pumps are non-functional.

A local in Vizag complained,"The communication lines are down. When we talk to Air India officials, they don't tell us about our flight status. When we ask the security guards, they are asking us to return after a month. I don't know how long we will be stuck here. We are not getting any information anywhere. Railway stations are all shut. Highways are also shut. There nothing to eat also,"

Meanwhile, Odisha CM Naveen Pattnaik has said,"Extensive house damage has been reported from certain southern districts. Energy infrastructure has been badly affected in Koraput, Raigarh, Navranpur and Malkangiri districts. Restoration work going on and road clearance will be completed by this afternoon."

Relief Commissioner of Bhubaneswar, PK Mahapatra, said,"We have evacuated 2,33,000 people. Today, we will provide them noon meal and those who are willing, they can go back and those who have lost their houses, I have ordered the collectors to immediately provide them polythene sheets and send them back."

PM Narendra Modi is likely to visit Vizag today to take stock of the situation.

OneIndia News