United Nations pegs Hudhud loss at $11 billion

Visakhapatnam: A report by the United Nations has put the economic loss caused by last year’s Cyclone Hudhud at $11 billion (Rs 66,000 crore). The cyclone, that made landfall at Vizag on October 12, last year, had devastated Vizag and some parts of Odisha.

The report released by the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, last week, also said that, Hudhud was the second costliest disaster in 2014. The report mentioned use of technology and forecast that helped reduce the fatalities.

“The number of fatalities during Hudhud were also relatively low for the cyclone of this strength — a category 4 storm,” said ESCAP’s report, Disasters in Asia and the Asia Pacific: 2014 year in review.

The denudation of the mangroves and casuarina plantations along the coast and the systematic removal of the thick tree cover on the hills has also been recognised as a contributing factor to the large-scale infrastructure damage and losses during Hudhud.

The report noted that Cyclone Hudhud generated significant damage and losses of $11 billion to critical infrastructure, including airport, Navy installations and key industries. “Restoration of offices and other infrastructure would need roughly Rs 7,000 crore,” district collector N. Yuvaraj said.

The report noted that Cyclone Hudhud generated significant damage and losses of 11 billion USD to critical infrastructure, including airport, navy installations, key industries and infrastructure. the report said.

“Restoration of offices and other infrastructure would need roughly Rs 7,000 crore,” district collector N. Yuvaraj said.

If the opportunity loss and man days loss, production loss by PSUs and private industries and other losses are put together, it will run into few more thousands of crores,” district collector N. Yuvaraj told this correspondent.