Eleven Years On, Visakhapatnam Still Remembers Hudhud’s Fury

On this day eleven years ago, Cyclone Hudhud made landfall on the Andhra Pradesh coast, unleashing winds that reached 175 km/h. The storm caused widespread destruction in Visakhapatnam, uprooting trees, demolishing homes, and leaving entire neighborhoods in ruins. Key infrastructure, including the airport terminal and naval facilities, sustained significant damage as power lines fell.

Life in the city came to a standstill. Many residents faced nearly a week without electricity. Streetlights went dark, traffic signals failed, and hospitals struggled to function on backup power. Shops and markets closed amid widespread refrigeration failures, and the water supply became erratic.

Lakshmi, a shopkeeper from Maddilapalem, recalls, “We had no lights, no fans, and nothing to preserve our food. Cooking became challenging, and the children were frightened. It felt like the city had gone silent.” Fisherman Ravi adds, “Without electricity, we couldn’t contact our families. The uncertainty was frightening.”

Amid the turmoil, the resilience of Visakhapatnam’s community emerged. Neighbors shared food and water, while various groups organized relief efforts. Emergency services worked tirelessly. “People shared everything they had. We formed local teams to help clear debris and repair homes,” Ravi remembers.

The cyclone left lasting environmental effects as well, disrupting fisheries and stressing marine ecosystems. Dr. Anitha Reddy, an environmental scientist, emphasizes that “Hudhud was a wake-up call to strengthen our infrastructure and ecological defenses.”

Since then, Visakhapatnam has made notable strides in disaster preparedness. More than 100,000 LED streetlights have improved safety, and underground cabling has fortified essential areas. Today, the city is better equipped for future storms. “The recovery taught us the importance of planning,” says Lakshmi, highlighting a shared commitment to resilience in the community.