Andhra, Odisha on high alert as cyclone Phailin nears the coast

The Andhra Pradesh government has issued a high alert in view of the cyclone along cyclonic storm Phailin along coastal Andhra and Odisha. After crossing North Andaman Islands, the deep depression over east central Bay of Bengal on Wednesday night intensified into cyclonic storm Phailin, while remaining practically stationary at about 950 km from Paradip.

 The cyclone would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm in the next 24 hours with a wind speed of 175-185 kmph and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by October 12 night, a bulletin by the IMD said. Odisha government has also issued a high alert and cancelled the Dusshera holidays of employees in 14 districts with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asking collectors to ensure the safety of the people.

 The deployment of Disaster Rapid Force in all vulnerable points has also been ordered. The alert was issued to Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts. MET department officials predict that the cyclone is likely to cross the coast by Saturday night causing very heavy rainfall. "A deep depression over north Andaman sea has intensified into a cyclonic storm Phailin. It's about 1100 km south east from Vizag.

 It will further intensify to a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours," Met official Narasimha Murthy said. Official sources said the cyclone situation is likely to be discussed at a cabinet meeting scheduled in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Meanwhile, people living in the coastal region have started panic buying of essential items.

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