28.10.14

Cyclone Hudhud : Extent of Damage

In a first comprehensive report on the ‘extent of damage’ caused by Hudhud in Andhra Pradesh, the state government has informed the Centre that the severe cyclonic storm had not only killed 46 persons and injured 43 others but also affected 20.93 lakh families and took lives of 2,831 animals and 24.43 lakh poultryducks in four districts.
The details, extended by Andhra Pradesh government to the Union ministry of earth science and IMD, show that 2.37 lakh hectare of farmland having 22.14 lakh tons of foodgrains and standing cash crops and 6.89 tons of horticultural crops suffered damage.
‘Hudhud’ could have been more disastrous had it not been for India’s space agency ISRO’s advanced weather satellite INSAT-3D, which provided vital inputs for accurate forecasting.
“The satellite images gave better resolution and allowed precise forecast,” said M Mohapatra, IMD scientist and head of its Cyclone Warning Division, while referring to the report that contains salient features of Hudhud.
The satellite, configured with improved imaging system and atmospheric sounder, was launched from Kourou, French Guiana on July 26 last year and made operational in January.

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