Hudhud: Andhra, Odisha grapple with aftermath, PM to visit

Andhra Pradesh and Odisha were today grappling with the aftermath of cyclone Hudhud which has left tens of thousands homeless and badly battered infrastructure in nearly a dozen districts, including port city Visakhapatnam which resembled a war zone.

The cyclone, which has claimed eight lives and forced over seven lakh people to take shelter in camps, had moved from coastal Andhra Pradesh to Odisha, where it damaged about 50,000 thatched houses, power network and roads, before heading to Chhattisgarh and weakening into a “deep depression”.

Besides Visakhapatnam, the other north coastal Andhra districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari have suffered widespread damage. Odisha’s Gajapati, Koraput, Malkangiri and Rayagada were the worst affected out of the eight districts hit by the cyclone.

The Centre is keeping a close watch on the situation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi announcing that he will visit Visakhapatnam tomorrow while Home Minister Rajnath Singh today spoke to Chief Ministers of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, which are likely to be lashed by heavy rains in the wake of the cyclone.

An alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall has also been sounded in the four north coastal districts Andhra districts and in several parts of Odisha.

Gusty winds and heavy rains have ravaged the picturesque port city of Visakhapatnam, where the cyclone made landfall yesterday, with uprooted trees, knocked down cell towers, transformers, hoardings and telephone poles blocking roads.

The Visakhapatnam airport also bore the brunt of the cyclone fury with the roof over a portion being blown away due to the gales.

Communication systems and electricity supply have snapped in the city since Saturday night and people at many places depended on the radio to know the cyclone updates.

People in the port city, who were confined to their homes since Saturday night, ventured out today after rains stopped.

“There is no power, no water or food. We are not getting petrol. We cannot move on the roads. It is difficult to survive a single day here,” said a resident.

Most of the petrol pumps were closed due to the damage caused by the cyclone and those which had opened today, saw people queueing up in large numbers. Residents complained that vegetables and other food items were in short supply and their prices have shot up.

Authorities have begun efforts to remove the debris and to restore normalcy.

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Wishes poured in for Amitabh Bachchan from the film fraternity as many stars took to Twitter to express their love and admiration for the megastar, who celebrated his 72nd birthday today.

Celebrities like like Priyanka Chopra and Karan Johar wished a long and healthy life to Bachchan, calling him their favourite hero.

“Happy birthday to the formidable the legendary SrBachchan. Thank you for the Inspiration Sir.. Health and happiness always,” Priyanka wrote on her Twitter page.

“The world’s collective wishes are like a ‘force of nature’ that honour you and love you. Happy Birthday Amitji! SrBachchan,” Boman Iranni tweeted.

Flimmaker Karan Johar, a family friend of the Bachchans, wrote, “Reverence…Respect and immense admiration to @SrBachchan!! Happy birthday amit uncle! We are blessed to be around you.”

Actor Uday Chopra, who is a childhood friend of Abhishek Bachchan, also wished the superstar. “A very happy birthday Amit uncle SrBachchan lots of love,” he said.

“Happy birthday SrBachchan. Thank you for inspiring us with your work and your being. You truly are the best actor we have,” actress Anushka Sharma posted on Twitter.

Bollywood star couple Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh,

music composer Shekhar Ravjiani, actresses Divya Dutta and Preity Zinta, Manoj Bajpayee and singer Mika, are also among the celebrities who have sent their wishes for the evergreen star.

The 16th edition of the Mumbai Film Festival announced the Jury for International competition, India Gold and Dimensions Mumbai sections.

British filmmaker Peter Webber (Girl With a Pearl Earring, Hannibal Rising) will head the International Jury which comprises Indian filmmaker Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox), Chad-born and Paris-based filmmaker Mahamat Saleh Haroun (A Screaming Man, Grigis) and Canadian documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Imagine the Sound, Comic Book Confidential).

India Gold Jury will be headed by Serbian director Goran Paskaljevic (Midwinter Night’s Dream, How Harry Became a Tree) and will comprise Sri Lankan filmmaker Prasanna Vithanage (With You Without You), Chinese actress Bai Ling (Red Corner, Southland Tales) and French producer Serge Bromberg (Inferno, The Extraordinary Voyage).

Dimensions Mumbai section will be judged by actor Huma Qureshi, film critic Rajeev Masand, actor-director Satish Kaushik, and directors Gauri Shinde and Homi Adajania.

The 16th Mumbai Film Festival will be held from 14th – 21st October 2014 at PVR Cinema Andheri and Cinemax Versova as the main venues.

Bihar Chief Minister Jeetan Ram Manjhi alleged on Sunday that a temple in Madhubani was “washed” after his visit. He added that the people behind the incident, however, do not hesitate to touch his feet to seek “personal favours”.

Recalling the incident, Manjhi said he visited Parmeshwari Sthan, in Brahmin-dominated Tharhi village in Rajnagar assembly constituency, during the bypoll campaign last month. “My ministerial colleague Ram Lashan Raman told me how the deity and temple were cleaned soon after I visited the temple… I had gone on someone’s request,” said Manjhi, who belongs to the scheduled caste

“Those who would not hesitate to touch my feet to seek personal favours nurse such feelings… Tell me what is this,” he said.

However, no case has been lodged against the temple priests in the absence of a formal complaint. – See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/temple-was-washed-after-my-visit-says-bihar-cm/#sthash.rnVsD8u3.dpuf

Patna stampede: CM Manjhi was stunned during his surprise visit to PMCH. Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi was left fuming during a surprise visit on Sunday evening to Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) to meet the Dussehra stampede victims as he found doctors unavailable in the Emergency Ward and the place wearing a filthy look.

Patna stampede: Government removes top police and administrative officialsTwo days after at least 33 people were killed and 28 got injured in a stampede during Dusshera celebrations at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, three senior state officials were removed by the government.Among the officials are Patna District Magistrate Manish Verma, DIG Central Range Ajitabh Kuma, Senior SP and Divisional Commissioner N VijayLaxmi.

An official said on Sunday.Funeral services providers offer free shrouds for Patna stampede victimsAccording to an ETV report, some funeral services providers at Patnas Bans Ghat have refused to charge money for shrouds for the stampede victims.,

Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Sunday said such incidents happen in other states also and strongly refuted the label of being a “dummy CM”.Angry mob ransack police station following murder of a villagerFumed over the murder of a villager, mob ransacked a police station in Nawada on Saturday.Villagers attacked Sitamarhi police station and set ablaze several vehicles stationed inside its campus.Girl gangraped in Patna City, 2 arrestedA girl from Patna City alleged that she was gangraped by two men. The police said that the accused has been arrested and probe is on.Rajnath Singh assures all help to Bihar stampede victimsHome Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday telephoned Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and assured him of all help for those injured in Friday’s stampede in Patna.