Severe cyclone 'Phailin' is likely to hit the Odisha and Andhra coasts with full fury touching wind speed of 240 km per hour this evening. It is now lay centred over Bay of Bengal, about 300 km south-southeast of Paradip and 240 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha. The cyclone's exact landfall is likely to be around the popular beach destination of Gopalpur and coastal Odisha. The condition of sea along and off Odisha coast will be rough to very rough and will become gradually phenomenal from today.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has said more than one lakh people have been evacuated from the vulnerable areas of the north coastal districts which may get affected when the Cyclonic Strom, Phailin when it crosses the coast this evening. After reviewing the situation with the collectors of coastal districts, he told reporters in Hyderabad that all possible arrangements have been made to prevent human losses and reduce damages due to the Phailin. He appealed to people to cooperate with the authorities and move to safer locations. He said some people had to be forcibly evacuated as they did not want to leave the vulnerable areas.

Stating that the Phailin Cyclone is the biggest ever that the country witnessed, he said Armed forces with engineering experts, relief material and boats and additional NDRF teams are reaching Visakhaptnam. Besides, Air Force and Naval choppers were also kept ready. He said the administration is not leaving any stone unturned to reduce damages as the path of cyclone may go 50 kilometres right or left.

District Collectors and the special officers have been directed to ensure all arrangement like food, water, milk and medicines at the relief camps. In view of likely damage to communication and electricity lines during the landfall of cyclone Phailin, alternate communication systems like satellite phone, ham radio and wireless sets have been put in place.