At least six killed as Cyclone Hudhud slams into India’s east coast

At least six people were killed Sunday when Cyclone Hudhud slammed into India’s east coast packing winds of almost 200 kilometres per hour, ripping down power cables and forcing roads and railways to shut. Around 370,000 people living along the eastern coastline were evacuated before the storm hit around 11.30 am (0600 GMT) on Sunday morning, as authorities tried to avoid mass casualties. Early reports two people were crushed by falling trees, while a third was killed when a wall collapsed in heavy rains. Details of the other deaths were not yet available.

We have had three deaths since this morning.

Natrajan Prakasam, a Disaster Management Commission official in the worst-hit state of Andhra Pradesh in southeast India

India placed its navy and coastguard on high alert ahead of the storm and advised residents to stay indoors as the cyclone passed by, warning of large waves known as storm surges. Some flights were cancelled while bus and train services in the worst affected areas were suspended. The head of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said the main highway in the port city of Visakhapatnam, which was in the eye of the storm as it hit, was strewn with fallen trees and electricity pylons.

Asia-Pacific Hudhud