NDRF sends in more teams to Vizag; total 13 teams in port city

As Cyclone 'Hudhud' made its landfall in Vishakhapatnam, the NDRF doubled the strength of its teams stationed in the port city to 13 in order to undertake swift relief and rescue operations.

"We have increased our teams to 13 in Vizag after the landfall occured. Earlier there were six teams stationed here," National Disaster Response Force chief O P Singh told PTI.

A single NDRF team usually has over 50 people.

The Director General said the NDRF teams being sent to this coast city from neary areas have been equipped with saw cutters which can rip through wood and metal which are found to be obstructing road routes after gusty winds and heavy rains.

Singh said the next few hours are "very crucial" for the force as special units and task force teams will be dispatched to areas of maximum damage.

"The next few hours will spell our course of action. All our teams are in their designated locations and a number of them are on task or are mobile," he said.

The NDRF has deployed a total of 44 teams to tackle the aftermath of 'Hudhud' in the two states of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha with 21 teams positioned in various areas of the former state, 20 teams have been mobilised in the latter.

The NDRF has deputed two of its experienced Deputy Inspectors General (DIG) to be stationed each in both the states to monitor and supervise the operations of the special disaster mitigation force in coordination with state government authorities.

Over 2,000 rescuers and 220 boats have been pressed in by the NDRF as part of these 44 teams, the DG said.