VISAKHAPATNAM, one of the most beautiful cities on the East Coast, was devastated by Cyclone Hudhud which hit Andhra Pradesh on October 12. The devastation was unprecedented. In fact, the whole northern region of Andhra Pradesh was badly affected by it. Due to development of technology, several agencies like NASA, ISRO and IMD had warned about the magnitude of the cyclone five days in advance, but the state government was not in a position to take up relief measures even two days after the cyclone hit the state. Its relief and rehabilitation efforts are still not up to the expectations of the people, who are going through immense sufferings. The wind blew at a speed of 200 kmph and more. No tree, either small or big, was left untouched. Many houses collapsed. Even high-rise housing complexes were shaken. As many as 50 persons have so far lost their lives in related incidents. For the past week, the industrial hub of the state, Visakhapatnam, is in darkness without electricity. Eastern Ghats in the city are very green and rich in plants compared to the hills in the other parts of the state. The whole greenery has disappeared. The agriculture is the worst hit. Industries both small and big have collapsed. Heavy industries like Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, BHEL have been hit by the cyclone. In the absence of power supply, communication and TV cable networks have became dormant. Water supply was hampered. Drinking water is still not available in many areas. Petrol bunks have been operating with generators. Petrol and diesel were being sold at abnormal prices. Prices of all essential commodities were jacked up. The state government failed to step in to restore normalcy. Life has come to a standstill in the cyclone-hit areas. Vehicular traffic was affected on National Highway 5 and other major thoroughfare. Though the national highway was cleared of uprooted trees and other blockades in one day, other roads are yet to be cleared even after one week. Thousands of people joined hands in restoration works. Everywhere, the youth led the initiative in helping people in the affected areas. But the government, which is supposed to be in the forefront, did not rise up to the occasion. All the measures said to have been taken were confined to paper and press releases only. Action is small but the propaganda is Himalayan. Still the same situation prevails. Had the government responded to the warnings and deployed personnel in advance, relief operations could have been started on the very next day of the cyclone. People could have been in a better state. From other parts of the state, men were brought and deployed on the job. But that too was much less than required. In almost all the streets, electric poles fell down or became inoperative. The damage to the power lines was very huge. The government is not equipped with sufficient men or material. There is dearth of men and material for the relief measures. Neighbouring states of Telangana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu sent men and material and gave a big help. Otherwise the situation would have been worse. This is all due to the failure of the government to gauge the depth of the devastation and act even though it was warned five days in advance. The food essentials were supplied only after four days. Even food packets supplied to the affected people were found to be in bad state. Eight essential food items were said to have been sold at Rs 3 and 5 a kg, but these were not available to many. But the propaganda blitz was that every thing was available. But people are seen standing in long queues to collect relief materials. Even the counters are managed by local TDP cadres. People are at the mercy of the TDP cadre. It is their whim and pleasure to whom the essentials to be given. In many areas the relief materials are grabbed by local TDP cadres. People are put to unimaginable plight. But contrary to this, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is highly praised in the media. For the last two days loss enumeration is going on house to house. Even that enumeration is going on under the supervision of local TDP cadre. The CPI(M) has demanded proper distribution and requested the officials not to yield to political pressures. The recently elected TDP government has withdrawn 50,000 white ration cards in Visakhapatnam itself in the name of bogus cards. Many were deprived of the government schemes. Repeated appeals for restoration of the ration cards were unheeded. Meanwhile the government linked all the social welfare schemes to the ADHAR cards even though the Supreme Court had directed the government not to link the schemes to ADHAR. Those who are not having ADHAR number are deprived of the benefits. The fishermen population is about two lakh families in the northern coast of the state. They are accustomed to fishing only. They don’t know any other profession, even agriculture. Due to this cyclone, they have lost not only their houses but also their livelihood. In Pudimadaka village, where the cyclone crossed the land, nearly 15,000 fishermen are living. Nearly 470 fishing boats were damaged. A large number of fishing material mainly fishing nets was destroyed. But the government declared only Rs 10,000 per boat as compensation. The cyclone hit the tribal areas including Araku and Paderu very hard. Due to landslides in Araku Mandal, five tribals died. Still the danger of further landslides is there. The CPI(M) has demanded that the tribals be shifted to safer areas. The coffee plantation and silver oak trees have fallen in large numbers. The industrial hub of Visakhapatnam was severely battered. All major and small industrial units were ravaged .The loss is said to be in thousands of crores of rupees. All contract and casual workers are without jobs because of non-operation of the industries. Their houses have been destroyed. The steel plant, the biggest major industry in the state itself, has come to standstill. The steel city which is very green has now worn look of a war ridden area. Though the steel plant management is putting up a brave face, the loss is put at 30 to 50 crore rupees a day for only operational delay. The total damage is yet to be assessed. The same story continues for other major industries like Visakhapatnam Port Trust, BHEL, Shipyard, HPCL, Corromandel Fertilisers, etc. The agriculture is in shambles. Paddy was destroyed. Even commercial crops like coconut, cashew, sugarcane, banana, beatle leaf, mango were destroyed. The agriculture sector, which was already in doldrums due to the government policies, is now hit badly. Already the paddy production has come down to 1.77 lakh hectares from 2.5 lakh hectares due to drought. The farmers are in tears waiting for government help and relief measures. But the government declared meager compensation which is not apt. The CPI(M) has demanded actual compensation for the farmers. Though the chief minister himself has been camping in Visakhapatnam for the past six days, not even once an all-party meeting was convened. Intellectuals and experts were not consulted and no suggestions were sought from them. But at the same time, the chief minister is on his toes to approach the World Bank officials to seek loan of Rs 500 crore for construction of underground power cable system. But the question is who will bear the burden of the loan and interest? The central government, which has earlier promised to give special category status to the state, is not uttering a word on the matter. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited Visakhapatnam on the second day of devastation, did not declare it as a ‘National Calamity’. Naidu has said in media that the estimated loss would be around Rs 70,000 crore. But the PM has announced Rs 1,000 crore only as initial compensation which is very meager. Though the state government announced that Cyclone Hudhud was a national calamity, the CM did not open his mouth when the PM was present at Visakhapatnam. The CM who claims to be very close to the Centre should put pressure on the government for the same. And see that Cyclone Hudhud is declared as National Calamity. CPI(M) state secretary P Madhu, along with local party cadres, took part in relief work from the very next day of the calamity. The CPI(M) has appealed to all sections of people, NGOs, and other political parties and organisations to come forward and join the relief and rehabilitation efforts.