Cyclone Hudhud

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Template:Good article Template:Infobox weather eventTemplate:Infobox weather event/IMDTemplate:Infobox weather event/JTWCTemplate:Infobox weather event/EffectsTemplate:Infobox weather event/Footer Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm HudhudTemplate:Efn brought heavy rain and powerful winds in eastern India and snowstorms in Nepal in October 2014. Hudhud originated from a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal and strengthened into a cyclone on October 8, receiving the name Hudhud. It made its first landfall on Long Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands before re-emerging into the Bay of Bengal on 9 October. Amid favorable conditions, Hudhud underwent rapid intensification, making landfall on Visakhapatnam on 12 October at peak intensity with a minimum central pressure of Template:Convert. Hudhud weakened inland, degenerating into a low-pressure area over Uttar Pradesh on 14 October. It then merged with a trough over the Himalayas.

During Hudhud's landfall, strong winds shattered glass, uprooted trees and poles, and threw debris across roads. In Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, 730,000 residents were moved to relief camps or shelters following the cyclone, and thousands of homes and crops suffered damage. In Nepal, Hudhud's remnants caused a snowstorm disaster which killed 43 and injured hundreds more, with most of the casualties coming from Mount Annapurna.

In the aftermath of Hudhud, special response forces mounted relief efforts across the affected states, with the state governments of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha requesting a combined total of Template:INRConvertTemplate:Efn in aid. A joint military operation named Lehar ("wave"), led by the Indian Navy, saw various branches of the military deploying and readying response teams and vehicles. Hudhud caused a combined total of 116 deaths and $11 billion (2014 USD) in damage across India and Nepal.

Meteorological history

Template:Storm path On 6 October, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) began tracking a low-pressure area that formed over the Gulf of Thailand as a result of a cyclonic circulation.[1] On 7 October, the low-pressure area strengthened into a depression over the northern Andaman Sea.[2] It further strengthened into a deep depression later that day as it moved westwards.[3] The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) also began tracking the system on 8 October, designating it as tropical cyclone 03B.[4] Later that day, it strengthened into Cyclonic Storm Hudhud before making its first landfall on Long Island in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.[5] Hudhud continued intensifying as it emerged into the eastern Bay of Bengal on 9 October[6] and intensified into a severe cyclonic storm later that day with a minimum three-minute sustained central pressure of Template:Convert.[7] Increased curved banding was also noted that day.[8]

On 10 October, Hudhud strengthened into a very severe cyclonic storm with a three-minute sustained central pressure of Template:Convert.[9] Early on October 11, Hudhud entered the radar range of Visakhapatnam while continuing to move northwestwards toward the coast of Andhra Pradesh. Curved banding increased and the appearance of an eye was noted.[10] Amid favorable conditions that day, Hudhud underwent rapid intensification, with a clearly visible eye as it approached northern Andhra Pradesh. Its minimum central pressure was Template:Cvt.Template:Efn It maintained its intensity as it stalled southeast of Visakhapatnam.[11] Hudhud made its second and final landfall near Visakhapatnam at peak intensity during the afternoon of 12 October.[12]

After moving over land, Hudhud weakened into a severe cyclonic storm[13] and then a cyclonic storm northwest of Visakhapatnam.[14] It weakened into a deep depression the following day over southern Chhattisgarh.[15] It further weakened into a depression that evening over central Chhattisgarh and persisted northward, degenerating into a low pressure area on 14 October over eastern Uttar Pradesh.[16]Template:Rp The weakening remnants of Hudhud then merged with an upper-level trough, resulting in an interaction over the Himalayas which produced a heavy amount of moisture.[17]Template:Rp

Preparations

A satellite loop shows a strengthening Cyclone Hudhud moving over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Hudhud traversing the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

On 9 October, the IMD placed areas of northern Andhra Pradesh and southern Odisha under a heavy rainfall warning.[18] Across both states, 44 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and eight rescue teams were mobilized. Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed readiness and response efforts with high-ranking officials in a meeting on 11 October.[19] In Odisha, district officials were told to prepare kitchens and store dry food supplies. Ten Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) teams were sent out and preparations were made to evacuate those living in unsafe houses.[20] Panic buying also occurred in the state on 8 October.[21] Emergency response teams were mobilized for railways. Indian Railways considered rerouting or cancelling 75 trains in the South Central Railway zone.[22] In Andhra Pradesh, 111,000 people living in coastal districts were evacuated, 370 relief camps were readied,[23] and two months' worth of food was stocked.[21] All flights from the Visakhapatnam Airport were suspended.[24] A cricket match between the Indian and West Indies cricket team, set to be played in Visakhapatnam on 14 October, was cancelled.[25]

Impact

India

Andhra Pradesh

An aerial shot shows a bridge with a large part broken off over a river
A collapsed bridge near Visakhapatnam

Strong winds shattered glass and left debris strewn across roads in Visakhapatnam.[26] 70 per cent of the city's trees were destroyed.[27] A Template:Convert storm surge wore down parts of the city's shoreline.[16]Template:Rp Gantyada recorded Template:Cvt of rain in 24 hours on 12–13 October, the highest in the state.[16]Template:Rp The cyclone damaged Visakhapatnam Airport, flooding a runway and tearing off its roof. It did not operate from 11 to 17 October.[28][29] Damage to it was estimated at Template:INRConvert.[30][31] The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant lost power from 12–16 October, halting operations and causing losses of about Template:INRConvert.[32][33] Operations at the headquarters of the Eastern Naval Command were disrupted, and the Indian Navy incurred losses of Template:INRConvert.[34][30]

The campus of Andhra University sustained widespread destruction; numerous offices inside the buildings were rendered unusable, the roofs of all 16 canteens were stripped, and the walls of six structures gave way. More than 90 percent of the campus' trees were felled. On 14 October, The Hindu described the state of most academic buildings as "unapproachable". Damage was assessed to be near Template:INRConvert.[35][36] Template:Cvt of surrounding walls and several enclosures were destroyed at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park,[37] allowing some animals to roam unrestricted.[38] Over 2,000 downed trees cluttered the facility, creating hindrances to navigation and harming animals. The zoo reopened on 11 November after the restoration of 65 enclosures and clearing of felled trees and debris.[37][39]

Local police and NDRF members rescued residents trapped in vehicles on highways.[26] At least Template:Cvt of roads were affected,Template:Efn leaving 73 villages isolated for up to 2 days.[16]Template:Rp Hudhud caused widespread power outages in Andhra Pradesh due to it damaging 27,041 electric poles.[16]Template:Rp 33 drinking wells and Template:Cvt of water lines were also damaged, along with 197 water towers and 102 pumping stations.[16]Template:Rp The cyclone caused a water shortage in Visakhapatnam, resulting in inflated bottled water prices.[40] Power outages exhausted suppliers' existing bottled water inventory.[41] 41,269 houses and Template:Cvt of cropland were impacted across the state. The cyclone caused 46 deaths and 43 injuries in Andhra Pradesh; 2,446,532 livestock—2,831 larger animals and 2,443,701 poultry—also died.[16]Template:Rp

Odisha

A street in Visakhapatnam cluttered by fallen trees, branches, and debris
A road in Visakhapatnam after Hudhud

In rural southern Odisha, 600 electricity poles were toppled. 48,000 thatched homes were damaged or destroyed. 230,000 people were temporarily moved to shelters.[42] Out of the Template:Convert of crops that were affected, Template:Convert lost more than half of their contents. 670 livestock were killed.[43]Template:Rp The Vamsadhara River crested at Template:Cvt on 13 October near Kashinagar, above the danger level of Template:Cvt.[43]Template:Rp A maximum of Template:Cvt of precipitation fell in R. Udayagiri in a 24-hour span on 12–13 October.[16]Template:Rp Three deaths occurred in Odisha due to the cyclone, while twelve others were injured.[43]Template:Rp[44][45]

Elsewhere

In the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Hudhud downed trees, forcing the closing of the Andaman Trunk Road on 8 October.[21] A total of Template:Cvt of rain fell in Port Blair in a 24-hour span between 7–8 October.[16]Template:Rp Hudhud also caused extreme rainfall in Chhattisgarh, with Template:Cvt in Manendragarh in 24 hours on 13–14 October.[46][16]Template:Rp A house collapsed in Govindgarh, Madhya Pradesh, amid torrential rainfall on the morning of 14 October, killing a family of three and injuring another occupant.[47][48] In Uttar Pradesh, rainfall killed 18 and caused damage to homes and crops.[49] On 14 October in Lucknow, a record Template:Cvt of rain fell, flooding multiple areas in the city. Accompanying strong winds damaged power lines, causing widespread power outages. Torrential rainfall in Bihar killed three and injured 50.[50] In West Bengal, Hudhud caused minimal damage. Hotels in coastal towns such as Digha were filled up by an influx of tourists who wanted to observe the cyclone.[51] The Sundarbans as well as a few districts in the state saw heavy rainfall.[52] Minor rainfall and flooding occurred in Bangladesh.[53]

Nepal

Template:Main article

Two satellite images side-by-side of Nepal, with one showing little to snow cover and a date saying 10 October, and the other showing completely white snow cover and a date saying 15 October
Satellite imagery shows a progression of snow cover from 10 to 15 October

On 14 October, the remnants of Hudhud caused severe avalanches and blizzards following a merger with an upper-level trough.[17]Template:Rp Four people were killed on Mount Annapurna, eight in Mustang district, and eight in Manang district. 14 injured climbers were airlifted to hospitals on 15 October. 43 were killed due to the snowstorms, with 21 of the fatalities coming from Mount Annapurna.[54][17]Template:Rp By 18 October, 384 trekkers had been rescued from Mount Annapurna.[55] The mountain received Template:Convert of snow in the span of 12 hours. On 19 October, the search for survivors ended, with close to 400 having been rescued. Many survivors were frostbitten following their rescue, requiring amputation of limbs.[56]

Aftermath

In Visakhapatnam, 12 NDRF teams worked to clean up fallen trees and debris on roads and 5,000 workers from power companies worked to restore electricity in the city on 14 October.[57] Higher temperatures in the city in the months following the cyclone caused a 60 percent decrease in its bird population as they moved elsewhere or died.[58] Andhra Pradesh's chief minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, said that 70% of communications were down and urged residents to remain in their homes.[59][60] To assist with relief efforts, 24 NDRF and 155 medical teams were sent to the affected areas. The Indian Navy led a military operation named Lehar to help citizens affected by Hudhud and placed 20 rescue teams in Visakhapatnam, while the Indian Army sent 25 rescue teams. The Indian Coast Guard sent 17 ships, and the Indian Air Force readied seven aircraft.[61][62]

Equipped with night glasses and other supplies, 300 members of the ODRAF worked on clearing uprooted large trees and poles from roads.[63] Naidu sought Template:INRConvert from the central government, while the government of Odisha sought Template:INRConvert and also requested a team to assess damages in the state.[64][43]Template:Rp Inland fisheries in Dhubri, Assam benefited from increased hilsa catch as the fish were driven from the stormy ocean.[65] According to a United Nations report in 2015, Hudhud caused $11 billion in damages.[66]

See also

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Notes

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References

  1. ↑ Tropical Weather Outlook for North Indian Ocean Issued at 0600 UTC of October 6, 2014. India Meteorological Department(6 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  2. ↑ Depression over north Andaman Sea, Cyclone Alert for Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pre-cyclone Watch for north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts.. India Meteorological Department(7 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  3. ↑ Depression intensified into a Deep Depression over north Andaman Sea and neighbourhood, Cyclone Alert for Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Pre-cyclone Watch for north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha coasts. India Meteorological Department(7 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  4. ↑ SUBJ/TROPICAL CYCLONE 03B (THREE) WARNING NR 001. Joint Typhoon Warning Center(8 October 2014). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  5. ↑ Cyclonic Storm, 'HUD HUD' over north Andaman Sea & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal, Cyclone Warning for Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Cyclone Alert for north coastal Andhra Pradesh & south Odisha coasts. India Meteorological Department(8 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  6. ↑ TROPICAL STORM 'HUDHUD' ADVISORY NO. EIGHT ISSUED AT 0300 UTC OF 9TH OCTOBER 2014 BASED ON 0000 UTC CHARTS. India Meteorological Department(9 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  7. ↑ TROPICAL STORM 'HUDHUD' ADVISORY NO. NINE ISSUED AT 0600 UTC OF 9TH OCTOBER 2014 BASED ON 0300 UTC CHARTS. India Meteorological Department(9 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  8. ↑ TROPICAL STORM 'HUDHUD' ADVISORY NO. TWELVE ISSUED AT 1500 UTC OF 9TH OCTOBER 2014 BASED ON 1200 UTC CHARTS. India Meteorological Department(9 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  9. ↑ TROPICAL STORM 'HUDHUD' ADVISORY NO. NINETEEN ISSUED AT 1200 UTC OF 10TH OCTOBER 2014 BASED ON 0900 UTC CHARTS OF 10TH OCTOBER 2014. India Meteorological Department(10 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  10. ↑ TROPICAL STORM 'HUDHUD' ADVISORY NO. TWENTY FOUR ISSUED AT 0300 UTC OF 11TH OCTOBER 2014 BASED ON 0000 UTC CHARTS OF 11TH OCTOBER 2014. India Meteorological Department(11 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  11. ↑ TROPICAL STORM 'HUDHUD' ADVISORY NO.TWENTY NINE ISSUED AT 1800 UTC OF 11TH OCTOBER 2014 BASED ON 1500 UTC CHARTS OF 11TH OCTOBER 2014(11 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  12. ↑ TROPICAL STORM 'HUDHUD' ADVISORY NO.THIRTY FOUR ISSUED AT 0700 UTC OF 12TH OCTOBER 2014 BASED ON 0600 UTC CHARTS OF 12TH OCTOBER 2014. India Meteorological Department(12 October 2014). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  13. ↑ Very Severe Cyclonic Storm, 'HUDHUD' over north Andhra Pradesh. India Meteorological Department(12 October 2014). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  14. ↑ Cyclonic Storm, 'HUDHUD' over north Andhra Pradesh & adjoining south Odisha. India Meteorological Department(12 October 2014). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  15. ↑ Cyclonic Storm, 'HUDHUD' over south Chhattisgarh & adjoining southwest Odisha. India Meteorological Department(13 October 2014). Retrieved 13 November 2025.
  16. ↑ 16.00 16.01 16.02 16.03 16.04 16.05 16.06 16.07 16.08 16.09 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Report
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 The Deadly Himalayan Snowstorm of October 2014: Synoptic Conditions and Associated Trends [in "Explaining Extremes of 2014 from a Climate Perspective"]. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society({Template:Date).
  18. ↑ 'Hudhud' to cross Andhra on Oct 12. The Hindu(9 October 2014). Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  19. ↑ Modi reviews Hudhud preparedness. The Hindu(11 October 2014). Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  20. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud: Odisha deploys rescue teams, to start evacuation soon. The Hindu(10 October 2014). Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Cyclone Hudhud heads for India, after battering Andaman and Nicobar islands. Reuters. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
  22. ↑ Hudhud cyclone: SCR to divert 75 trains. The Hindu(10 October 2014). Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  23. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud: 1.11 lakh people in Andhra Pradesh evacuated. The Economic Times(11 October 2014). Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  24. ↑ Hudhud cyclone damages Visakhapatnam Airport. The Economic Times(14 October 2014). Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  25. ↑ Hudhud costs Indians dearly. The Telegraph (India)(14 October 2014). Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 Cyclone Hudhud hits Andhra Pradesh, leaves a trail of destruction. The Indian Express(13 October 2014). Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  27. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud: Visakhapatnam Stripped of 70 Percent of Green Cover. The New Indian Express(14 October 2014). Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  28. ↑ Visakhapatnam Airport to be Shut for a Week. The New Indian Express(15 October 2014). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  29. ↑ Vizag airport becomes operational, Air India resumes flights. The Economic Times(17 October 2014). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Cyclone Hudhud impact: Navy suffered Rs 2,000 crore loss in Vizag. India Today(14 October 2014). Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  31. ↑ Vizag struggles in Cyclone Hudhud's aftermath. Mint(14 October 2014). Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  32. ↑ Damage by Hudhud Cyclone. pib.gov.in. Press Information Bureau(25 November 2014). Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  33. ↑ Impact of cyclone Hudhud on RINL's profitability is Rs 350 crore. The Economic Times(25 November 2014). Retrieved 4 February 2026.
  34. ↑ Eastern Naval Command base battered. The Hindu(13 October 2014). Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  35. ↑ Mute spectator to nature’s fury. The Hindu(14 October 2014). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  36. ↑ Hudhud cyclone damage: AU taps alumni for rebuilding process. The Hindu(26 October 2014). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 Hudhud-hit zoo yet to regain lost glory. The Hindu(13 October 2016). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  38. ↑ Picture of the week: Birds of a feather. The Hindu(7 March 2025). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  39. ↑ Zoo reopens after one month. The Hindu(12 November 2014). Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  40. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud impact: No power, water or mobile network in Vizag. India Today(14 October 2014). Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  41. ↑ It all boils down to 'power'. The Hindu(16 October 2014). Retrieved 9 February 2026.
  42. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud batters South Odisha. The Hindu(13 October 2014). Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  43. ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 Memorandum on the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm Hudhud 2014. Special Relief Commissioner, Odisha. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  44. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud in India Kills 8 as Typhoon Hits Japan. NBC News(12 October 2014). Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  45. ↑ Death toll from cyclone Hudhud climbs to 41. Reuters(18 October 2014). Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  46. ↑ Hudhud causes heavy rains across Chhattisgarh, Pallavi, Aparna. Down to Earth(14 October 2014). Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  47. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud: Three killed, one injured in house collapse in Madhya Pradesh. Firstpost(14 October 2014). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  48. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud kills 22 in India; thousands of homes damaged. Australian Broadcasting Corporation(14 October 2014). Retrieved 31 January 2026.
  49. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud impact: Heavy rain kills 18 in Uttar Pradesh. India Today(15 October 2014).
  50. ↑ 18 dead as Hudhud tail stings UP with heavy rains. The Hindustan Times(15 October 2014). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
  51. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud Has Little Impact in West Bengal. NDTV(12 October 2014). Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  52. ↑ Hudhud impact: Heavy rainfall in West Bengal. The Hindu(12 October 2014). Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  53. ↑ Hudhud effect felt in Bangladesh. Dhaka Tribune(12 October 2014). Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  54. ↑ Freak Nepal blizzards kill at least 20, including hikers, guides. Reuters(15 October 2014). Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  55. ↑ Nepal Annapurna: Trekking disaster toll reaches 39. BBC News(18 October 2014). Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  56. ↑ Nepal Annapurna: Search ends for surviving trekkers. BBC News(19 October 2014). Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  57. ↑ Post-Hudhud, flood of relief in A.P.. The Hindu(14 October 2014). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  58. ↑ 60 Per Cent Decline in Bird Species in Vizag Post-Hudhud. The New Indian Express(26 April 2015). Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  59. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud blasts India's east coast, at least five dead. Reuters(12 October 2014). Retrieved 4 December 2025.
  60. ↑ Cyclone Hudhud hammers eastern India. Al Jazeera(13 October 2014). Retrieved 25 January 2026.
  61. ↑ Hudhud leaves trail of destruction. The Hindu(12 October 2014). Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  62. ↑ Navy will lead 'Op Lehar' for rescue. The Indian Express(13 October 2014). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  63. ↑ Odisha returns Andhra's favour. The Telegraph(14 October 2014). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  64. ↑ Naidu seeks Rs. 2,000 crore. The Hindu(12 October 2014). Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  65. ↑ Cyclone with a catch: Indian fishermen enjoy bountiful haul, Borah, Amarjyoti. news.trust.org (Reuters)(15 December 2014). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  66. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Dmg

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