Warships, nuclear submarines at Vizag naval base safe

Cyclone Hudhud caused some devastation at the naval base here but the two nuclear submarines and all the warships berthed there are safe, navy sources said Monday.

The Indian Navy is assessing and repairing its base here, the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command, damaged by cyclonic storm.

Sources said the nuclear-powered INS Chakra and the soon-to-be-ready nuclear-missile submarine INS Arihant are safe.

The warships and other important vessels at the base have also not received any major damage, according to the sources.

An official said nearly 60 percent of the trees at the base have been uprooted and almost all roads are blocked.

"The officers and men of the naval base at Vishakhapatnam are working to get the base back to its operational status at the earliest," the official said.

"Damage in the naval dockyard was minimised by the proactive and preventive measures undertaken by all concerned," he added.

The airfield at naval air station INS Dega was flooded and damage has been reported to almost all the buildings.

"With sustained efforts, both runways have been made fit for flying operations," the official added.

Power supply at the base has been disrupted due to damage in transmission lines and communications have been severely affected.

Meanwhile, sources from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) also said that "all key facilities in and around Vishakhapatnam is safe".

"There has been some damage to buildings due to strong winds. But standard operating procedures were followed and the key facilities are safe," a DRDO official said.

DRDO officials also said they will go ahead with test firing of nuclear-capable 'Nirbhay' missile from Balasore, which is nearly 640 km north of Vishakhapatnam along the eastern coast.