Powerful cyclone Phailin made landfall at Gopalpur in Ganjam district of Odisha last night with wind speed of 220 Kilometres per hour. Initial reports say more than 20 people lost their lives in Odisha. IMD Director General LS Rathore told reporters in New Delhi that the cyclone made its landfall very close to Gopalpur town around 9 PM. He said, the very severe cyclonic storm will gradually turn into cyclonic storm and then deep depression.
The National Disaster Management Authority also said that the severe cyclonic storm is expected to weaken gradually as it moves North-Northwestwards.
The worst since the disastrous super-cyclone of 1999, the cyclonic storm pounded the Odisha coast and north coastal Andhra Pradesh. Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts and many coastal towns are experiencing heavy rain since last evening. Rain also lashed parts of West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
The cyclone uprooted trees and electric poles and disrupted power supply in coastal Odisha. It has inundated several low lying areas of coastal districts. Terrified people were forced to remain indoors. Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, 4.5 lakh people were moved to safer places in Odisha.
In Odisha, torrential rain lashed the district throwing normal life out of gear. Winds with speeds ranging between 180 and 200 kilometers per hour blew over this backward district causing extensive damage to public and private properties. More from our correspondent:
The impact of cyclone Phailin is being felt in Jharkhand also. Met department has predicted continuous rain for the next 48 hours. The cyclone has already entered the southern part of Jharkhand. We have a report from our Correspondent:
Rail and road connectivity have also been severely affected due to the storm. Around 25 Puri-bound trains have been cancelled. Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena informed that the Railway Board is moniroring the situation.
Flights and trains from Odisha capital Bhubaneshwar have also been suspended. All trains between Howrah and Visakhapatnam have been suspended.
18 fishermen, who had ventured into the sea, are still stranded on their trawler off the Paradip coast.
Army, IAF, Navy, CRPF and National Disaster Response Force are positioned in areas vulnerable to the cyclone.
The Centre says, there will be no scarcity of foodgrains for the cyclone affected people in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Food and Public Distribution Minister K.V Thomas said this to reporters in New Delhi. He said enough foodgrains are available for these States.
The Prime Minister has directed government agencies to extend all possible assistance to states to ensure relief and safety of people as cyclone 'Phailin'. Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Briefed Dr.Manmohan Singh on the arrangements made to deal with cyclone.
UPA Chairperson and Congress President, Sonia Gandhi said that the government and her party will do everything possible to stand up to any eventuality and every emergent situation in the wake of cyclone Phailin. A statement issued by the Congress Party yesterday said that she is in constant touch with Union Home Minister.
