Train services in Bhubaneswar-Palasa section resumed on Monday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 13: Restoration work is being carried out on a war footing in the areas hit by cyclone Hudhud that struck the state yesterday.

The storm forced railway authorities to cancel, short terminate and divert several trains. The operation of flights out of Bhubaneswar was also affected. Bus services from Baramunda bus terminus were disrupted.

Authorities said they were trying their best to restore the services. While train services have been restored on several routes, bus services are normal now. Business establishments that had remained closed yesterday opened today.

East Coast Railway officials said 28 trains passing through Visakhapatnam had been cancelled, while eight others had been diverted through other routes and four short terminated.

J.P. Mishra, chief public relations officer of East Coast Railway, said that as part of continuous efforts to establish rail connectivity with Visakhapatnam from Bhubaneswar, a passenger special train would run between these two cities. “This train would stop at all stations between Palasa and Visakhapatnam,” said Mishra.

He said the railway emergency staff had been deployed to repair affected areas and the authorities expected services to return to normal in a day.

Flight services have been restored. Sharad Kumar, director of Biju Patnaik Airport said that all flight operated normally today. However, since the Visakhapatnam airport had been shut down, no flights were going there.

“The flights that were going to other destinations via Visakhapatnam will skip this airport,” said Kumar.

Bus services were normal today. Baramunda bus stand wore an empty look yesterday.

“Though the cyclone had no effect in the city, people did not come to the bus stand. We had to stop running buses because there were no passengers. Today, everything is back to normal,” said a member of the bus owners’ association.

However, bus services to Visakhapatnam have been put on hold, along with routes that have been affected by the cyclone. Orissa State Road Transport Corporation officials said services would resume after the roads were cleared in the southern districts.

Business establishments, including vegetable markets, opened in the city today. The price of potato has fallen from Rs 40 to Rs 30.

“We hope things will normalise within a day or two as people start making normal purchases,” said Subodh Sahu, a trader.