Cyclone Hudhud Lashes Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, India; Tens of Thousands Evacuated, One Death Reported

A year after Cyclone Phailin made landfall in India’s Odisha state and took 44 lives, millions in the area are bracing for the impact of another massive threat.​ Tropical Cyclone Hudhud picked up strength and will likely make landfall as the equivalent of a Category 3 (major) hurricane with 125 mph winds on Sunday, according to weather.com meteorologist Chrissy Warrilow.  

As Hudhud continues its west-northwest course, the Indian Meteorological Department has issued a cyclone alert for the coastal states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, both on the eastern coast of India. The storm was expected to make landfall near Visakhapatnam around noon local time on Sunday. The Indian Meteorological Department has classified the storm as 'very severe,' according to the BBC. The Indian Meteorological Department was predicting a five-to-ten-foot storm surge in low-lying areas in Andhra Pradesh, according to the latest reports. 

(MORE: Check the Forecast for Cyclone Hudhud)

As of Sunday, 7:46 a.m. IST, Cyclone Hudhud's Impacts are as follows.

Damage and Casualties

NDTV reported that sea water overwhelmed and damaged the Kakinada-Uppada highway in the East Godavari district. 

The storm has already killed at least one person: On Saturday, a nine-year-old girl was killed and an 11-year-old boy was reported missing after a boat evacuating people from a seaside village capsized, the Times of India reports. The boat was carrying 25 people from the Magarakanda village, mostly women and children. 

India's weather office told Reuters they expect the storm will seriously damage thatched homes, road and rail service, as well as electricity and telephones. As of Saturday, there were reports of roads washed away and collapsed walls, The Times of India said. 

Transportation

The Ichapuram-Kakinada national highway was closed to all traffic by authorities.

According to The Times of India, train, air, road and sea transport services were greatly impacted on Saturday. Impacts included 16 canceled flights at Vizag Airport, 52 trains canceled, 35 diverted and eight short-terminated by the Waltair division of the East Coast Railway and vessels from the outer berths of Visakhapatnam Port Trust were vacated. These effects were expected to continue into Sunday. 

NDTV reported evacuations of more than 150,000 people in five coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh Sunday morning. According to The Times of India, authorities plan to have 500,000 residents temporarily relocated by Sunday morning across 370 relief camps. The majority of these evacuees will come from Srikakulam and East Godavari, which are expected to take the hardest hits from Hudhud.

Evacuations and Shelters

Late Saturday night, some districts began to urge residents to evacuate via public announcements, according to eOdisha.org. 

In the hills of Bhudaneswar, authorities evacuated a vulnerable tribal group, the Bonda people, many of whom have never left the hills that they call home, according to eOdisha.org. 

Rations have been stockpiled in shelters in preparation for evacuations as Hudhud closes in on India, according to Reuters.

Rescue and Relief Operations

According to NDTV, the National Disaster Relief Force has increased the number of its relief teams on standby to 44, consisting of more than 2,000 rescuers and 220 boats. The NDRF is also airlifting several large wood and metal cutters to Andhra Pradesh and Odisha in preparation for impacts. 

The Times of India reports that 54 naval boats, 689 swimmers, 30 rescue teams, one column of the army and 16 NDRF teams are on standby to conduct rescue and relief operations if necessary. 

National and State Disaster Response Forces are being sent to coastal areas to assist with evacuations and the possibility of search and rescue efforts, NDTV reports. The Navy and Coast Guard are also on alert to provide aid. 

The Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force will carry out search and rescue operations in the event of disastrous flooding and heavy damage. Four naval ships and nine air force helicopters are also on standby for potential rescue efforts. 

(MORE: 3 U.S. Airmen Lost in Typhoon Phanfone Identified by Robins Air Force Base Officials)

Preparations 

As of Sunday, fishing operations were suspended, NDTV reported. 

Although last year’s Phailin claimed 44 lives, Odisha’s preparedness efforts were considered a resounding success; Over 1 million residents were evacuated before Phailin made landfall on Oct. 12. In comparison, a cyclone with similar power killed 10,000 people in 1999.

This year, the state government of Odisha has set a "zero casualty" target, according to The Indian Express.

“The Government will strive for zero casualty. District collectors must prepare immediately and keep the evacuation plan in respect to their districts ready, giving highest priority to most vulnerable villages/habitations,” a spokesman of the special relief commissioner said.

As well as keeping updated evacuation plans, the state government is making arrangements to deal with the deadly flash flooding associated with cyclones of this magnitude. Officials are monitoring dam and irrigation water levels and preparing safety boats, according to The Indian Express.

Even with Odisha’s level of preparation, however, many still fear Hudhud’s landfall.

“The damage caused by Phailin is yet to be repaired. The Hudhud will break our economy’s backbone,” K. Rameya, a fisherman of Gopalpur town in Odisha, told the Hindustan Times.

The Times of India reports that Hudhud is named after the national bird of Israel at the suggestion of Oman.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Cyclone Hudhud October 2014