Radar fails due to Cyclone Hudhud, Chandrababu Naidu says extent of damage being assessed

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday said that the administration was unsure if the eye of the storm passed Visakhapatnam after the local radar failed due to the devastating cyclone.

Naidu also said that the extent of damage is yet to be assessed. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also inquired about the damage and preparations in place to tackle the cyclone.

Weather in Visakhapatnam, however, has calmed down now with wind speeds reducing but IMD officials had warned that gusts would return after a brief period of time.

Addressing the media, Naidu said, "We don't know the extent of damage yet. We don't even know if the eye has passed completely because the communication link with the radar is lost. The radar has failed."

Accurate reports over the location of the Cyclone Hudhud are not available, however the weather in Visakhapatnam has calmed down now.

"People can download an app from the NRSC Bhuvan website and directly upload the incidents of damage in their surroundings using the app. Those who don’t have smartphones can upload on the FTP site of the NRSC," Naidu said. The app can be downloaded from www.bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in.

The Andhra Pradesh government has been receiving pictures of damage and about 300 people have already downloaded the app.  

"The amount relief and other measures that we have to take will be decided over the next half hour. I will also go to Visakhapatnam by evening and monitor the situation there," Naidu said. Three persons have been reported dead while huge tracts of paddy crops, coconut farms and other trees have been destroyed.

Naidu also requested people not to come out of their houses for about 5 to 6 hours despite the weather calming down. He said National Remote Sensing Centre is also providing satellite images of the damaged areas.