Cyclone Phailin the biggest cyclone in years, will hit Odisha and coastal Andhra Pradesh this evening.It is heading towards Odisha coast at a wind speed of 220 km per hour. It now lies centred over Bay of Bengal, about 375 km south-southeast of Paradip and 345 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha. Director General, Indian Meteorological Department said that heavy rain accompanied by strong winds would lash coastal Odisha.

The cyclone will move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur by this evening. The condition of sea along and off Odisha coast will be rough to very rough and become gradually phenomenal from today.

In Andhra Pradesh, the entire administration has fully geared up to meet any exigency as the Met officials warned of heavy damages when the very severe cyclone Phailin crosses the coast this evening. A red alert has been sounded in the north coastal districts. National Disaster Response Force teams have been kept ready with all kinds of relief material.