Cyclone Phailin just 20 kms away from Odisha coast, to hit shortly

Bhubaneshwar, Oct 12: The super storm Cyclone Phailin, said to be the strongest cyclonic storm to hit the region, is reportedly 20 kms away from the Gopalpur coast of

.

According to the latest updates, the Cyclone Phailin is likely to hit Kalingapatnam, Andhra Pradesh and Paradip by 8pm. Over 5.25 lakh people have already been evacuated and have been accommodated to safe cyclone shelters.

At least seven persons were killed as strong winds ranging around 80 kmph accompanied with heavy downpour uprooted trees in several parts of Odisha in afternoon today.

A news channel reported that gusty winds of 65km/hr are blowing in Odisha.

Army, IAF, Navy, CRPF and National Disaster Response Force were positioned in areas vulnerable to the cyclone which is centred around 150 km southeast of Gopalpur and 260 km southeast of Paradip.

With Phailin closing in, water level along the Odisha coast was swelling. Heavy to very heavy rains were reported from the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Bhadrak and Kendrapara in coastal region.

At least seven persons were killed as strong winds ranging around 80 kmph.

Helplines were also set up at Vijayawada, Rajahmundry, Kazipet, Warangal, Khammam and Manchiryal railway stations.

Odisha State Emergency Operation Centre numbers are: 0674-2534177, Ganjam- 06811-263978, Puri- 06752-223237, Jagatsinghpur- 06724-220368, Kendrapada- 06727-232803, Bhadrak- 06784-251881, Balasore- 06782-262674, Mayurbhanj- 06792-252759, Jajpur- 06728-222648, Cuttack- 0671-2507842, Khordha- 06755-220002, Nayagarh- 06753-252978, Gajapati- 06815-222943, Dhenkanal- 06762-221376, Keonjhar- 06766-255437

Andhra Pradesh emergency numbers are: Srikakulam - 0894-2240557/ 9652838191, Visakhapatnam- 1800425002, Vizianagaram- 1077/0892-2236947, East Godavari- 0884-2365506, West Godavari- 0881230617, Krishna- 086722525 Toll Free - 1077, Guntur- 08632345103/08632234990, Nellore- 08612331477

Phailin is likely to maintain the intensity of a very severe cyclonic storm for six hours and gradually weaken into a cyclonic storm in subsequent six hours while moving northwestwards across interior Odisha.

All trains between Howrah and Visakhapatnam have been suspended and power supply switched off along the Odisha coastline, and three coastal districts in Andhra Pradesh as a precautionary measure.

OneIndia News