It was around 12 noon on the 11th of October 2014 when I took my car to find a restaurant on the Vizag sea coast, which was recommended by lonely planet as one of the best in Vizag and where the biryani was supposed to be awesome! Driving along the coast of Vizag to Bhimli is one of my favourites as you find lush green trees on your left and the humongous blue sea on your right. It often reminds me of the “route 1” Pacific scenic drive in the United States. Rolling down my windows I was driving at a slow pace enjoying the beautiful weather and feeling the chill wind. There were groups of people at regular intervals standing and gazing at the sea hoping to catch a glimpse of something extraordinary. Yes, everyone was curious and wanted to find out how this cyclone could be different!
For the past one week, radios and televisions were all about the onset of Cyclone Hudhud. The Government, they say, had evacuated more than a lakh of people from the coast to safe areas. All through my drive I could see policemen posted at each and every entry point to the beach, persuading people to keep away from the sea. I, for myself was so excited that I would be witnessing this huge cyclone the next day, the 12th of October and never did I imagine what the Hudhud was about to gift Vizag!
Being raised in Chennai, a port city, whenever there was a cyclone, we used to stay indoors sitting beside the balcony window with a cup of hot tea and some hot pokodas to eat and seeing the torrential rains. Now with this Hudhud, I was thinking that I would relive my childhood days again!
After a late night Saturday movie, I dozed off at 2 am and at that time I could hear the gushing winds. Well, Hudhud was arriving with much fanfare I guessed. It was 7 in the morning when I was forced to get up. There was a rattling of the windows, the glass panes broken and leaves from the trees of the nearby hill all scattered on my floor. Trying to open the door, I couldn’t as it needed more strength and once I did, all I could see was glass shred from the nearby apartments flying around, slippers from my shoes rack gracing the next door. With much difficulty, I got down to the cellar to find my neighbour’s car being pushed a few metres! The metal grill of my balcony window came off like a chocolate coat on a pastry! There was an ongoing whistling sound like we hear in war movies. The low pressure of the cyclone blocked my ears and I could get the feel of being in a higher altitude. There was this gush of wind, and as I was bracing myself to protect from it, shreds of glass decorated the back of my T-shirt. Not to risk anymore, I had to run back to my flat and stay put the whole day, surrendering to the fury of nature!
 |
| a view of the kailasagiri hill before Hudhud |
The next morning, Vizag was a devastated, ravaged city! Thousands of trees were uprooted, traffic movement was blocked, telephone and electricity poles were crisscrossing the roads, cables were strewn all over. Vizag, known for its greenery, is no more green,
 |
| a view of the kailasagiri hill after Hudhud |
the word was
already removed from the city. Landmarks were gone. It was another war hit town, people queuing up for milk and water and other basic necessities. It was a god sent opportunity for the crooks who made a good sum by selling a loaf of bread for Rs.100, a can of water for Rs.300 and a packet of milk for another Rs.100. How life could be without the basic comforts for an average person – no electricity, no telephones, no internet (so no Facebook and WhatsApp!), a literal struggle for a can of water, for a packet of milk and of course vegetables – Ask a Vizagite, he would relate!
Thanks to the good governance at the center and at the state, mobiles were restored in 3-5 days, power was restored in a week, essentials commodities are now back in the stores and internet- Of course yes after 20 days!
I wonder the reason behind the naming of this cyclone after a bird called “Hudhud”, probably the genius mind behind this naming had foresaw that this beautiful bird would peck out the beauty of Vizag!