VISAKHAPATNAM: As a city on the coast, Visakhapatnam is not new to cyclones. However, Hudhud wasn’t anything like anyone ever expected. While it all began innocently on Saturday night with strong winds, by Sunday morning, the city resembled a scene straight out of a disaster movie, with trees snapping like twigs and electricity poles swaying ominously.
The wind, a reported 120-130 kmph on Saturday, packed up speed, especially before the landfall, reaching over 190 kmph. A brief lull around noon during which the sun broke through the clouds revealed the destruction that Hudhud had caused. Apart from uprooting trees, the wind had torn flex boards, banners and aluminium sheets, and blew away a portion of the slum-dwellings at Seethammadhara.
Several people rushed out of houses as roofs were ripped by strong wind. While some hurriedly sought shelter elsewhere, others tried to salvage their belongings.
Following the half-an-hour pause — soon after landfall — high speed wind returned with renewed force, sending people outdoors scampering home. As night descended, the city was enveloped in darkness with candlights flickering in every home and the wind, as strong as ever, and making a ghostly sound outside.