Navy, NDRF on high alert for Hudhud relief efforts

The Eastern Naval Command of the Indian Navy and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance as the severe cyclone Hudhud is poised to strike the east coast of India.

The NDRF has dispatched its 39 teams comprising of 1,573 personnel with 193 boats and other rescue and relief equipment in various parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

Four Indian Naval ships are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake humanitarian aid and disaster relief, evacuation, logistic support (including providing medical aid).

These ships embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats, integral helicopters and relief material, including food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets etc, in quantities sufficient to sustain over 5,000 personnel.

The Navy is monitoring the developments closely and is in constant communication with the state administration to augment the rescue and relief operations, an official release said.

Six aircraft are standing by at the Naval Air Station INS Dega to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material to the stranded. Additionally, 30 diving teams and four platoons with additional relief material are ready to be pressed into action at short notice.

The NDRF has dispatched 18 teams in various vulnerable parts of Andhra Pradesh - 4 in Vishakhapatnam, 4 in East Godavari, 2 in Srikakulam and 1 each en-route to Vijaynagaram and Vishakhapatnam. Seven teams are kept as reserve at NDRF base in Guntur.

A total of 20 teams of NDRF have been deployed in various vulnerable parts of Odisha.

NDRF teams are stationed at Koraput, Malkangiri and Kandhmal and 1 team each have been deployed at Gajapati, Kandmal, Puri, Balasore, (Khurda) Bhuwaneshwar, Bhadrak, Mundali, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj and Kendrapada as a proactive measures to mitigate the situation during cyclonic storm.

Three teams have been deployed at Chatarpur, Aska and Behrampur areas of Ganjam while 4 teams have been kept as reserve at NDRF base Mundali.

NDRF control room is monitoring the situation arising due to cyclonic storm and is in touch with other agencies to provide immediate help for rescue and relief in case of emergent situation, an official release said.

The severe cyclonic storm 'HUDHUD' over west-central Bay of Bengal, meanwhile, moved northwestwards and intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm. It lay centered at 1130 hrs IST of 10 October 2014 near latitude 14.8 ºN and longitude 87.0 ºE about 500 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam and 550 km south-southeast of Gopalpur.

The system would move west-northwestwards, intensify further into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. Thereafter, it would cross north Andhra Pradesh coast around Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of 12 October 2014.

Heavy rainfall has been warned for in north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha under the influence of the system. Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy (6.5 - 12.4 cm) to very heavy falls (12.5 - 24.4 cm) at a few places and isolated extremely heavy falls (= 24.5 cm) over west and east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts of north Andhra Pradesh and Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Phulbani districts of south Odisha commencing from 11 onwards.

Rainfall would occur at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Krishna, Guntur and Prakasham districts of Andhra Pradesh and north coastal Odisha during the same period.

Squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would commence along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts from 11 morning onwards. The wind speed would gradually increase to 130-140 kmph gusting to 155 kmph from 12 morning along and off north Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts) and 80-90 kmph along and off adjoining districts of south Andhra Pradesh (West Godavari, Krishna districts) and south Odisha (Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts).

Sea condition along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts would be rough to very rough from 11 morning. It would gradually become phenomenal from 12 morning onwards along and off north Andhra Pradesh coast and very rough to high along and off south Odisha coast.

Storm surge of about 1-2 meters above astronomical tide would inundate low lying areas of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh at the time of landfall.

Under the influence of the system, extensive damage to kutcha houses, uprooting of big trees are expected in North Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts). Partial disruption of power and communication lines, minor disruption of rail and road traffic, potential threat from flying debris, flooding of escape routes, damage to agricultural crops are likely.

In South Andhra Pradesh (West Godavari, Krishna districts) and south Odisha coasts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts), damage to thatched huts, breaking of tree branches causing minor damage to power and communication lines and uprooting of small trees are expected.

Fishermen in North Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts) have been asked to suspend fishing operations in area of influence of cyclone. In South Andhra Pradesh (West Godavari, Krishna districts) and south Odisha coasts (Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts) fishing operations have been totally suspended.

Judicious regulation of aviation, navigation, rail and road traffic have been recommended. People in affected areas have been asked to remain at safe places around landfall period.

Mobilisation of evacuation from coastal areas has started.