Hudhud, the storm that hit coastal Andhra Pradesh at the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday morning, caused heavy rainfall in South Bastar region in the wee hours.
light rains gradually converted into heavy rainfall by afternoon and lashed Dantewada, Jagdalpur, Sukma, Doranapal, and adjacent areas. The storm virtually shut down markets and locals preferred to stay indoors as the region wore a deserted look.
Following the forecast of the storm marking its presence in the State, Chhattisgarh Government has already made preparations to deal with the situation and has issued a high alert.
In Jagdalpur, the district administration asked the officials concerned to keep the rescue teams and arrangements made under the disaster management plan on standby mode.
The administration has established a Control Room in the district office to deal with the situation. One can contact to the Control Room at telephone number 07782-222044 in case of emergency.
Besides, the administration has constituted teams in Jagdalpur, Tokapal, Bastar and Bakawand to deal with the damages due to the storm.
Bastar Collector Ankit Anand made an appeal to locals to avoid venturing out from the house, if it is not necessary. He also asked the tourists not to visit water bodies in the affected areas including Chitrakot, Tirathgarh, Kotamsar Tadaka Ghumar etc.
The sky in Raipur and Bilaspur remained cloudy on Sunday while an increase in wind speed was recorded.
Many places of both the divisions received rain and also recorded a decline in temperature by two to three degrees Celsius.
Meanwhile, four trains that pass through Raipur railway division including Korba – Visakhapatnam, Visakhapatnam–Kurla, Durg –Jagdalpur and Visakhapatnam–Hazrat Nizamuddin (Samata Express) were cancelled on Sunday.
The Railways decided to close traffic on KK line and thus, cancelled run of Kirndul –Visakhapatnam Passenger and goods trains plying on Kirandul–Kottavlasa route. Besides, Hirakhand, Samleshwari and, Jagladpur-Durg Intercity Train have been stationed at the safe places in Odisha.
Experts from the Regional Meteorological Department have forecast possibility of witnessing the impact of Hudhud in the State by the morning of October 14. As a result, light to heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds can affect normal life in both southern and northern regions of the State.