Hyderabad: In the aftermath of Cyclone Hudhud, the losses of the Power sector in AP has touched Rs 1,000 crore, confirmed Ajay Jain, the energy secretary of AP on Monday.
He also said that a line of VSS-Gajuwaka was ready and was currently undergoing tests. If healthy, 70 to 80 MW power to emergency services like hospitals, airports, secretariat etc. would be restored by midnight.
The cyclone has badly affected power supply in Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram while partially affecting Srikakulam. About 2,000 engineers and workmen have been deployed by APSPDCL to APEPDCL and they are working round the clock to restore power. As per official sources, in the three districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam, 15,000 electric poles have been uprooted and more than 6,000 transformers have been partially or completely damaged.
The airport of Visakhapatnam lies in shambles following the 205 kmph gale-force winds that hit the city during the cyclone (Photo: DC)
Winds gusting at 200 kmph caused severe earth faults which in turn damaged the substation equipment, poles, transformers and power transmission and distribution lines. Two 400 KV substations, 10 sub-stations of 220 KV and 25 sub-stations of 132 KV capacity have been severely hit by the cyclone. Around 15,000 poles are broken or damaged apart from shutting down of the 2000-MW Simhadri power generating plant.
However, start up power supply to Simhadri has been restored from the Vemagiri 400 KV substation. Officials were also trying to arrange alternate supply to Visakhapatnam from 32 KV Tuni, Koruprolu, Parawada and Gajuwaka substations. The line restoration of Gajuwaka, 220 KV Vizag Switching Station was completed by Monday evening.
Meanwhile, The runway at the Vizag airport was inundated and the terminal building was totally damaged. It will take at least a week for restoration. Vizag airport took the worst hit. Shards of glass, mangled metal frames, fallen air vents and artificial roofing covered the entire airport including the hanger, lounge and others areas. Critical equipment and radars were also damaged. All flights have been cancelled on Monday and Tuesday. 
Railway sleepers were damaged as heavy rains washed away the underlying foundation of the tracks (Photo: DC)
Students and bachelors living in various private and university hostels in the city are facing a harrowing time as they are being told to vacate their rooms. The devastation caused by the cyclone has resulted in a complete power shutdown. As a result, water has become a scarce commodity.
Meanwhile, Vizag’s Indira Gandhi Zoological Park was badly hit by Cyclone Hudhdud. However, officials said there are no chances of the zoo animals straying into the city. Officials said all animals were shifted into night houses and so far, few deer have died. Several enclosures were severely damaged and the animals will not be released into the ensclosures until they are repaired.
Telangana and Andhra Pradesh will not receive further rainfall as the Cyclone Hudhud has changed direction and moved northwards over Chhattisgarh.
The MeT department has withdrawn its rainfall warning for Telangana districts. Hudhud also weakened into a low pressure system by Monday evening. However, CM K. Chandrasekhar Rao still convened a review meeting on Monday.
