Visakhapatnam: Cyclonic storm Hudhud claimed 21 lives, affected six lakh people and damaged over 6,000 houses in north coastal Andhra as the extent of destruction caused by it Sunday unfolded a day later. Relief operations began on Monday on war footing.
Visakhapatnam, the largest city in the state which bore the brunt of the fury, remained without electricity, communication and drinking water as almost the entire physical infrastructure collapsed due to the cyclone.
The storm, which hit the coast near the port city Sunday with heavy rains wind speed of 185 kmph, left a trail of destruction, unseen and unheard by its nearly 18 lakh population. (IANS)