The loss caused by the Hudhud cyclone is `enormous’ and is being estimated, according to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
Speaking to newspersons at the Begumpet airport here after his arrival from Visakhapatnam on Sunday evening the Chief Minister said Visakhapatam city bore the brunt of the Hudhud along with other districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulum.
``All crops were destroyed along with those being cultivated in agency areas. The loss to poultry is huge with death of 37 lakh chicken. Public and private assets were destroyed beyond recognition and lakh of trees have fallen. I visited Andhra University today and did not see a single tree in 120 year old campus,’’ he said.
Commending the efforts of the officials in relief and restoration, he said 14,000 engineers were working round-the-clock. ``We could restore normalcy almost and the pending work is being attended to on a war-footing,’’ Naidu said.
As 30,000 electric poles and thousands of transformers were destroyed, the power restoration was a lengthy process, he added.
The Chief Minister had camped in Visakhapatnam for a week since the cyclone crossed the coast on last Sunday.