Cyclone Hudhud hits Andhra coast

Visakhapatnam: Cyclonic storm 'Hudhud' Sunday noon hit Andhra Pradesh coast at Pudimadaka village near Visakhapatnam city.

Described as very severe cyclonic storm, it started making landfall around noon at Pudimadaka, about 50 km from Visakhapatnam, officials said.

It may take an hour for the cyclone to cross the coast, the officials said. People in Visakhapatnam and adjoining areas started to flee amid strong gales with speed reaching to 180 km per hour lashing the coast.

Heavy rain with gale speed winds are lashing Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram districts since Saturday night, inundating low-lying areas, uprooting trees, snapping electricity and communications.