Cyclone Hudhud: IMD forecasts more damage in Vishakhapatnam

The Director General of Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), L.S. Rathore, on Sunday said that even as Cyclone Hudhud crosses over Vishakhapatnam but it will experience very heavy rain thereby causing damage in the city.

"The very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud is just crossing over the city of Vishakhapatnam. So far, the maximum sustain wind which has been reported is ranging between 170-180 kmph gusting up to 190 kmph. Heavy to very heavy rainfall is being reported along the coast," said Rathore.

"But in an hour or so, the reverse wind flow will be experienced by the city which will again have a very great damage potential," he added.

Rathore further said the northern coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh including Srikakulam, Vijanagaram, Vishkhapatnam, East and West Godavari are expected to witness heavy to very heavy rainfall under the influence of this very severe cyclone.

In case of Odisha, he said that the state's southern districts will see heavy precipitation in the coming 24 to 48 hours.

"The southern districts of Odisha will get heavy to very heavy precipitation with pockets of extremely heavy precipitation in coming 24 hours and even in 48 hours at some places. The districts, which will receive this kind of weather, include Malkangiri, Koraput, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Kandahal and Phulbani. This is besides two coastal districts of Ganjam and Gajapati," he said.

Earlier today, a number of buildings were damaged in Vishakhapatnam as the cyclonic storm made landfall in the city.

Five diving teams have been dispatched to Srikakulam and 10 teams to low lying areas in and around Vishakhapatnam for the rescue and relief operations.

Over four lakh people have been reportedly evacuated from the coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha so far.