People scramble for essential supplies, power, fuel

People in this city as also other coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh today went without power and scrambled for essential supplies for the third day as they struggled to reset their lives after being battered by the cyclone Hudhud which claimed 25 lives.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today made an aerial survey of the cyclone-battered areas and announced an interim assistance of Rs 1000 crore for taking up immediate relief works after visiting the city.
There were no signs of immediate restoration of electricity and communication while their sufferings being exacerbated by seemingly tardy response by agencies concerned.
Long queues were witnessed at petrol pumps and shops selling essential food items like milk.

Many residents alleged traders are trying to exploit the situation by selling different items at exorbitant prices.
Residents in certain localities of Visakhapatnam jostled and shoved as trucks carrying relief material distributed food packets and water bottles.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who is camping in Visakhapatnam to oversee relief operations, announced a package of essential food items and vegetables a nominal price would be provided to cyclone-hit people.
Schools remained closed, power lines were down and communication systems functioned partially in Visakhapatnam.
Four more deaths were reported today, according to a statement from the disaster management department. While 15 persons were killed in the worst-hit Visakhapatnam district, eight deaths are reported from Vizianagaram and two from Srikakulam.