On Monday, a day after cyclone Hudhud battered Odisha and Andhra Pradesh,  the porty city of Visakhapatanam, which was in the eye of the storm, began to survey the damage. It did not look promising. About 70% to 80% per cent of Vishakhapatnam has been destroyed, estimated SS Guleria, the deputy inspector general of the National Disaster Relief Force, adding that the city will need to be rebuilt.

Despite extensive damage to property, the loss of life was mercifully low. By Monday afternoon, officials in Andhra Pradesh said only 21 people had died in the massive storm. In neighbouring Odisha, the toll was between two and five.

But electricity lines and phone services have been knocked out in many places, and it take two or three days to be restored, officials said.

Over four lakh people were evacuated from their homes in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh as cyclone Hudhud pounded east coast on Sunday. At its peak on Sunday morning, the cyclone had reached speeds of up to 200 kilometre per hour.

The Visakhapatnam airport took a beating and will not be operational for another few days as radar and navigational aids have been destroyed.






 

In Vishakapatanam on Monday, uprooted trees littered the streets and roofless huts and sheds were visible everywhere. Streets were deserted and most residents stayed indoors out of fear of getting hurt.

The storm has since weakened into a depression that on Monday evening lay centered about 60 km west-northwest of Raipur.

Here are some images showing the extent the the damage caused by cyclone Hudhud.