Document 6555721

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Alert
India
Cyclone Hudhud devastates Odisha & Andhra Pradesh
Geneva, 13 October 2014
1.
Brief description of the emergency and impact
Cyclone Hudhud caused extensive devastation as it invaded the port city of Visakhapatnam, Andhra
Pradesh (AP) on Sunday noon time, leaving in its wake widespread wreckage, fallen trees and damaged
buildings. The cyclone moved with deafening winds blowing at 190 kmph, and despite massive
evacuation, has so far claimed six lives –three persons killed in Andhra Pradesh and three in Odisha.
Several areas of the coastal AP and Odisha are experiencing heavy rains since Saturday. In AP, the cyclone
has caused extensive damage due to torrential rains in three coastal districts – Visakhapatnam,
Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam. The authorities have closed the city airport and suspended train services
in Visakhapatnam, which is home to two million people and a major naval base. Gale force winds
accompanied by rain battered Vishakhapatnam, disrupting communication and uprooting electricity
poles, trees, flexi boards and hoardings at several places.
Wind velocity was not too strong in Odisha, and hence caused less damage. However heavy rainfall is
continuing in south Odisha posing threat of floods in eight districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Malkangiri,
Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal and Kalahandi.
As per the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast, the cyclone may result in the flooding of lowlying coastal areas in AP and southern Odisha. The IMD has forecast that Hudhud’s peak wind speeds will
drop to 60 kmph by Monday afternoon, but heavy rainfall will continue till 15 October 2014. As the
cyclone progresses, it will cause heavy rainfall in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, East Madhya Pradesh and East UP
and Gangetic belt of West Bengal.
2.
Why is an ACT response needed?
This cyclone is worse than the cyclone Phailin which occurred in the same month last year and affected
the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Poor people in isolated villages have particularly been affected
by frequent cyclones and floods and by losing their livelihood and shelters without proper relief and
rehabilitation. The unemployment situation arises and the price of the essential commodities has gone
up due to less stock and inadequate supply. The ACT members LWSIT, CASA and UELCI have strong
presence in the affected areas and have been involved in relief and rehabilitation work during the past
disaster situations. Therefore the ACT response will be needed in the affected remote villages.
3.
National and international response
As part of the rescue operation, around 500,000 people were evacuated from several districts of Andhra
Pradesh to high-rise buildings, shelters and relief centres. The state government in Odisha stepped up
evacuation of people and by evening 165,000 persons from eight districts were evacuated to 1,690 relief
centres. All cyclone developments are being reported in real time to the prime minister’s office. Twentyfour National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, two Army columns, 56 boats launches and six
Alert 40/2014 India – Cyclone Hudhud
2
helicopters were deployed. The authorities had suspended power supply and stopped traffic on the
national highways by Saturday evening as precautionary measures.
Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urged the Centre to treat the devastation caused by
Hudhud as a “national calamity” and sought an ad hoc assistance of INR 2,000 crore (Approx. US $
330 million).
30 total diving teams with Gemini craft loaded with relief materials and 20 rescue teams fanned out to
rescue people in flooded areas of Srikakulam, Anakapalle and areas surrounding Vishakhapatnam. A
disaster management cell has been set up at Army Air Defence College at Gopalpur at sea and 16 teams
have been deployed to clear obstructions and open roads for transport of relief materials and quick
evacuation of casualties. The Air force also kept ready aircraft as stand by for the relief work.
4.
ACT Alliance response
The ACT Alliance India Forum members (LWSIT, CASA & UELCI) are closely watching the situations. All
three ACT Alliance members have a strong presence in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh states. The field staff
of the ACT members helped the rescue teams to motivate people to evacuate and go to higher places.
There are about 6000 people taking shelter in 12 cyclone centres- cum- schools constructed by LWSIT in
Ganjam Dist, Odisha.
5.
Planned activities
The ACT India Forum members (LWSIT, CASA, UELCI) field staff are taking stock of the situation and after
conducting a rapid field assessment in the next three days may issue either RRF or Preliminary appeal for
ACT Alliance support.
6.
Constraints
As the Hudhud cyclone areas are having very heavy rainfalls and the roads are blocked by trees and
uprooted electricity poles, it is not possible to access all the communities immediately, hence obstructing
the transportation and communication.
Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance
(jbi@actalliance.org)
For further information please contact:
ACT Senior Programme Officer, Sudhanshu S. Singh (phone +41 22 791 6035) or
ACT Head of Programmes, Sarah Kambarami (Sarah.Kambarami@actalliance.org; phone + 41 22 791
6211)
ACT Web Site address: http://www.actalliance.org