Cyclone Hudhud hit Vizag airport to resume partial services today

Visakhapatnam: Moving towards greater normalcy, cyclone-devastated city airport would resume operations on Friday with partial resumption of flights and restoration of power supply gathered pace in coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh wrecked by Sunday's natural calamity.

Power supply had been partially restored in Visakhapatnam district and mobile communication services significantly improved, bringing some relief to people facing harrowing times since the cyclone Hudhud slammed the city.

Air India will start operations with a flight to Delhi departing at 1:30 PM. Director General of Civil Aviation, the Bureau Civil Aviation Security and airlines have put in place temporary measures to restart operations.

Waterproofing of the airport has been done and four check-in counters will be made operational. Amenities like food counters have also been set up again. VIP lounge at the airport will be open for senior citizens and women.

"Air India will start flight operations from Friday. Subsequently, another nine flights by other operators may start from Saturday," Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said.

The airport, in a shambles after the cyclone fury with passenger terminal a picture of destruction and roof-tops blown off by gale force winds, is under restoration. All efforts are being made for operation of immigration facilities so that international flights start by November 1, he said.

Power supply to Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has been restored, an official of Energy Department said adding that the Andhra Pradesh government is making efforts to draw power from Odisha for cyclone-affected areas.

As Andhra Chief Minister N Chandhrababu Naidu hit out at telecom companies for lack connectivity in Visakhapatnam even two days after the cyclone, a senior official of Indus Towers, a three-way venture between Airtel, Idea and Vodafone, said power from diesel generators have been provided to all strategic and important towers in coastal districts of East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.

(With additional information from PTI)