68,000 evacuated in Odisha as Cyclone Hudhud lands in AP

As very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud made a landfall in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today said about 68,000 people have been evacuated and the state administration is prepared to face the eventuality.

"The cyclone had its impact in different districts of Odisha like Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Puri, Kalahandi and Kendrapara," Patnaik said.

68,000 people have been evacuated to safe places, the chief minister said, directing the officials to continue the evacuation of people from vulnerable areas as the complete impact of the cyclone would be felt some hours after the landfall.

The affected people have been accommodated in 604 shelter homes, Patnaik said, adding the state government was prepared to face the situation caused by the cyclone and possible floods thereafter.

Patnaik, who reviewed the situation at the Special Relief Commissioners (SRC) office here, also enquired about the water reservoir positions at different places particularly in southern districts where the cyclone Hudhud had its maximum impact, officials said.

Of about 68,000 persons evacuated by noon today, 30,000 people had been shifted to safety in Gajapati district followed by 13,282 in Koraput and 7,900 in Ganjam district, special relief commissioner P K Mohapatra said.

Under the impact of the cyclone, the entire coastal and southern region experienced moderate to heavy rainfall since early morning though the maximum wind speed was below 60 kmph.

However, the weather office predicted an increase in the wind speed in eight southern districts.

The state government has identified the eight districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal and Kalahandi which will bear the maximum brunt of the cyclone.