Hudhud takes sheen off Vizag

The severe cyclonic storm, Hudhud, has taken the sheen off the port city of Visakhapatnam, which was known for its plush greenery and various parks on the beach side.

Kailasagiri, near MVP Colony, touted as the world’s first park developed on a hillock abutting the sea, stands testimony to this. Developed by the Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (Vuda) on 380 acres overlooking beaches, forests, and the city, Kailasagiri now resembles a desert with the 30-feet Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati statues being the only witness to the havoc. The plush green lawns, tropical trees and fibre statues have all been blown away.

The ‘Titanic Sea View Point’ has been completely wrecked, while the circular train on the hill-top park had been derailed. The rope way, the only one in south India, however, is functioning.

“We have never seen such a rampage in the last 50 years. I think it will take at least two years for Kailasagiri to regain its lost glory,” said an official.

Things are no different at the Ramakrishna Beach (popular as RK Beach), which has been completely damaged, while the Vuda Park, also abutting the Bay of Bengal, has been completely wiped out.

“All the famous landmarks of Visakhapatnam, including the submarine museum, have been erased from the city’s map,” said P Santosh, a resident.