Modi briefed about situation in wake of 'Hudhud'

Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth Sunday briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the situation in the districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha affected by cyclonic storm 'Hudhud' that hit the country's east coast earlier Sunday and left six people dead, sources said.

Seth also chaired a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) to review the situation.

A home ministry release said that preliminary assessment suggested that the cyclone has left six people dead - three each in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Communication links and power and electricity services have been considerably damaged in the affected districts, it said, adding that a detailed assessment will be carried out as soon as the wind speed reduces and the roads are cleared.

"The centre has kept all its agencies on full alert to provide necessary assistance to the states," the release said.

It said that National Disaster Response Force teams have evacuated about 11,300 people in affected districts of Andhra Pradesh and 1,400 people in Odisha.

'Hudhud' hit the Andhra coast Sunday, triggering heavy rains and strong gales, which wreaked havoc in the coastal region. It also caused heavy downpour in neighbouring Odisha.

Modi Saturday had chaired an emergency high-level meeting to review the preparedness for the cyclone.