Cyclone Hudhud hit India’s east coast in mid-October 2014, primarily affecting the state of Andhra Pradesh, most significantly the port city of Visakhapatnam. It also struck the state of Odisha, which experienced heavy rainfall.

The deafening winds of 190km/h claimed the lives of 41 people and injured many more. Hudhud caused extensive devastation to housing, electrical infrastructure, standing crops and livestock.

It affected 471 villages, and relief for more than 280,000 people had to be provided by the government with the support of the Indian Army, the National Disaster Response Force and various other organisations.

The National Highway and other important thoroughfares were cleared, but with limited resources they were unable to reach out to people in more rural villages.

ACT response

ACT members therefore had a significant presence in these areas, where the communities who depended mainly on farming as their livelihood source saw Hudhud devastate rice, banana, coconut and sugarcane plantations.

ACT provided immediate food assistance and worked with the community to establish a food security and livelihood restoration programme.

The districts of Visakhapatnam, Srikakulam and Vizianagaram were plunged into darkness after the electrical system completely collapsed: over 40,000 electricity cables snapped and 7,500 electrical transformers were damaged.

ACT therefore worked with communities to implement solar renewable energy sources to bring light to the affected areas.