Visakhapatnam/Bhubaneshwar: Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were grappling with the aftermath of cyclone Hudhud which has left tens of thousands homeless and badly battered infrastructure in nearly a dozen districts, including port city Visakhapatnam which resembled a war zone.
Besides Visakhapatnam, the other north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari have suffered widespread damage. Odisha’s Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada were the worst affected out of the eight districts hit by the cyclone.
An alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall has also been sounded in the four north coastal districts Andhra districts and in several parts of Odisha.
Gusty winds and heavy rains have ravaged the picturesque port city of Visakhapatnam, where the cyclone made landfall on Sunday, with uprooted trees, knocked down cell towers, transformers, hoardings and telephone poles blocking roads.
The Visakhapatnam airport also bore the brunt of the cyclone fury with the roof over a portion being blown away due to the gales.
Communication systems and electricity supply have snapped in the city since Saturday night and people at many places depended on the radio to know the cyclone updates.
