The Cyclonic storm Phailin which hit the Andaman and Nicobar Islands yesterday, has intensified and is expected to hit coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh by Saturday evening.

Director General of MeT Department, L. S Rathore told reporters in New Delhi that under the influence of the cyclonic system, rainfall would occur at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfalls at some places of coastal Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh from Saturday morning.

He said it will continue and extend to interior Odisha and coastal areas of Gangetic West Bengal from Sunday.
The Department has termed the cyclonic storm as very severe with a maximum wind speed of 175 to 185 kilometer per hour. The weatherman has advised fishermen not to venture into sea along north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coast.

The National Disaster Management Authority -NDMA, has said, all arrangements are in place to meet any eventuality arising out of cyclonic storm.

Talking to media in New Delhi, NDMA Vice Chairman, Sashidhar Reddy said, about 15 teams of National Disaster Response Force are in Andhra Pradesh and 28 teams are in Odisha to meet the challenge. He said, Health and Petroleum Ministries have been asked to be ready with medical teams and fuel supplies.

The Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Srikant Jain said that state and center government have taken right course in evacuating people from the low lying raying areas.

Andhra Pradesh state administration has sounded a high alert in all nine coastal districts in view of the cyclone . Special officers have been appointed in all coastal districts and six teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been sent to four districts. Chief Secretary P K Mohanthy reviewed the arrangements with district collectors.

The Odisha government has began stocking shelters with ration. Disaster response teams are on standby. Holidays of government employees have been as the cyclone is heading the coast.