Rains not due to cyclone: MET

VISAKHAPATNAM: Cyclone Huhhud is expected to reach speeds of 150 kmph by the time it makes land fall on October 12.

Potential disturbance of communication lines, minor disruption to rail and road traffic, extensive damage to temporary shelters and threat due to flying debris is expected.

The district collectors of Vizag and Srikakulam will be convening a meeting on disaster preparedness with heads of various department on Thursday. Control rooms have been set up in both the districts with the toll free numbers: 180042500002 for Vizag and 18004256625 for Srikakulam.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed district collectors of the three districts of north Andhra to be on alert and has directed them to shift people from danger-prone areas along the coast to safer places.

Meanwhile, Hyderabad received heavy rains throughout Wednesday bringing normal life to a standstill.

Drains overflowed, traffic junctions were flooded leading to jams. Frequent power cuts were also witnessed in some areas.

Met officials, who recorded 10 mm rainfall, however, clarified that the cyclone Hudhud had nothing to do with the rains.

“The rainfall is because of the local convective activity that is causing the thundershowers. There is a presence of 70-90 per cent moisture and the temperature is above normal.

This circulation has merged with the low pressure system in West central Bay of Bengal that will further merge with the cyclonic storm Hudhud,” said K. Seetharam, scientist, IMD.

Saroornagar received 31.8 mm rainfall, followed by Amberpet that received 30.8 mm rainfall. Normal life was disrupted in the city. All the drains on the main road that run adjacent to the Number 6 bus stop were overflowing causing many commuters to drive on the wrong side.

The bus stop was also vacant as people feared electrocution after the recent Haj House incident, which killed five people. Live wires dangling in rainwater puddles added to the terror.