Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an immediate assistance of ₹1,000 crore to the Andhra Pradesh Government in view of the devastation wrecked by cyclone Hudhud in Visakhapatnam and other coastal districts.

The Sunday cyclone piled huge economic loss as it battered the ‘steel city’ with full intensity. Under its impact, telecom, power, industrial establishments, especially the public sector — RINL, Hindusthan Shipyard, Port Trust etc faced significant losses. The number of casualties has been officially put at 21.

The Prime Minister arrived here by a special flight at around 1.30 pm after conducting an aerial survey of some of the cyclone-hit areas in the district. He was received at the airport by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Union Ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Ashok Gajapati Raju, and Governor Narasimhan.

He saw the damage at the airport and went by road to the collector’s office where he reviewed the relief operations along with the Chief Minister and Union Ministers.

He later told newspersons that the Union Government would stand by the AP Government and the people of the city in the hour of crisis.

Temporary setback

The PM said that he had announced during his trip to the US that Visakhapatnam will be transformed into a ‘smart city’. Despite the temporary setback, there was no doubt Vizag would develop into a great city and all help would be provided, he assured.

Modi commended the State Government for using technology in minimising the losses and both the Union Government and the State Government worked in tandem to reduce the loss of life. Later, the PM announced ₹2 lakh to the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the cyclone and ₹50,000 to the injured out of the Prime Minister’s relief fund. The impact of the cyclone felt in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, the Godavari districts has taken a toll of 21 lives, and caused widespread damage to crops, trees, power lines, and roads, according to preliminary assessment coming in.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu visited various affected places, holding review meetings. He was camping in Vizag to oversee the relief operations. He wanted the Centre to treat the destruction and damage caused by the severe cyclonic storm as a ‘national calamity’ and requested for an assistance of ₹2,000 crore.

The State administration in coordination with the district affected has been involved in rescue and relief operations with over 1.35 lakh people in shelters and relief camps and over 5 lakh being provided food.

Relief operations Aided by the NDRF, Navy and defence personnel, the massive relief operations were in full swing as roads were being cleared, communications slowly resuming and debris being removed.

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