Heavy rains lash Andhra as cyclone moves towards Vizag

Strong winds and heavy rains are lashing Andhra Pradesh on India's east coast, disrupting transport, snapping electricity and communication as cyclone Hudhud appears moving towards the port city of Visakhapatnam, IANS reports.

The Hudhud impact will generate tidal waves, 1-3 feet above normal levels, on Bangladesh's coastal region, the Met Office warned on Saturday.

Reports of coastal flooding have been already received from Bhola and Barguna.

Cautionary Signal No. 3 was hoisted at maritime ports and all fishing boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain in shelter.

Parts of Bangladesh recorded rain throughout Saturday and the Met Office has forecast another spell of rain for Sunday. All passenger ferries in the inland river routes were suspended.

In India's port city of Visakhapatnam, heavy rains since Saturday evening have inundated low-lying and surrounding areas. People were evacuated to safer places, officials said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired an emergency high-level meeting on Saturdayto review the preparedness for Hudhud.

Strong gales uprooted trees, disrupting vehicular transport. Several areas including industrial zone of Gajuwaka on the outskirts plunged into darkness as electricity lines were snapped.

'Very severe cyclonic storm' in Bay of Bengal is lying about 100 km southeast of Visakhapatnam. It will make a landfall close to Visakhapatnam around Sunday noon, said a bulletin by India Meteorological Department issued Sunday morning.

Authorities in north coastal Andhra Pradesh comprising Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram and Visakhapatnam districts and adjoining coastal districts of east and west Godavari are on high alert as the cyclone is likely to cause massive destruction.

Nearly 400,000 people have been evacuated to relief camps in five districts.

The government has appealed to people in the districts to remain indoors or move to safer places including cyclone shelters and relief camps for their safety.

The Met Office has warned that at the time of landfall, gale winds with speed up to 170-180 km per hour gusting to 195 km per hour will prevail along and off the coast. It has also forecast heavy to very heavy rains in the five districts and in southern Odisha over next two days.