Visakhapatnam : Cyclonic storm Hudhud which wreaked havoc in north coastal Andhra has also damaged Visakhapatnam Airport, snapping the air connectivity with this port city.
The cyclone which hit the coast near the city with strong gales damaged the roof of the airport building, officials said. Flood water also entered the runway, forcing the authorities to suspend all operations.
As a precautionary measure, airport authorities had cancelled all flights to and from the city Sunday but with the cyclone damaging the facility, it may take more time for restoration of services.
Visakhapatnam airport is the biggest domestic and international airport in Andhra Pradesh.
The airport in the past used to get frequently inundated due to heavy rains. In 2005, it was shut for more than 10 days due to flooding. However, the authorities have since taken measures to prevent inundation.