Efforts on to restore water, power supply in cyclone-hit Andhra Pradesh

VISAKHAPATNAM/HYDERABAD: Authorities were today busy taking steps to restore the battered infrastructure in Visakhapatnam and other cyclone-hit districts in coastal Andhra Pradesh, apart from ensuring supply of essential commodities.

The electricity system has suffered huge damage in the city with hundreds of electric poles in the city being uprooted due to gusty winds and repair efforts were on at a frantic pace. However, officials said full restoration may take more time.

Electricity supply was partially restored in the city and electricians and other personnel from other districts are being moved to Visakhapatnam to fully resume power supply.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, who has been camping in Visakhapatnam and other cyclone-hit districts to oversee relief operations, has said that essential commodities will be given free at all fair price shops in cyclone-affected districts.

The government is transporting vegetables from other districts in the state to Visakhapatnam to ensure that there is no shortage of supply.

Water was being supplied to the residents of Visakhapatnam by water tankers and efforts were on to resume water supply by pipelines, officials said.

Naidu had ordered milk dairies in other districts to supply milk in Visakhapatnam following its acute shortage in the city.

Rail and bus services have already been restored to Visakhapatnam. The state disaster management department said in a statement that 35 people were reported killed in different rain-related incidents till yesterday evening.

Over 1.35 lakh people are taking shelter in the relief camps set up by the state government and 6,85,000 are being provided with food in the camps, it said.

The cyclone 'hudhud' , which struck the Andhra coast on Sunday last caused devastation in the Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

Naidu had put the rough estimate of losses at about Rs 70,000 crore due to the cyclone.