Odisha braces up for Cyclone Phailin, cancels
Durga Puja festivities; Naveen Patnaik says state fully prepared
The storm over east central Bay of Bengal moved westwards, slightly intensified further and lay centred about 590 km south-southeast of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and 600 km southeast of Gopalpur in Ganjam district, SC Sahu, director of Bhubaneswar meteorological centre said.The Odisha government is bracing up for super cyclone Phailin with the armed forces being put on standy. Special Relief Commissioner PK Mahapatra has said the government will do its best to ensure there is zero human casualty.
“Our first concern is zero human casualties.. no one will be allowed to stay in any kachha house.. anyone who stays back will be forcefully evacuated,” Mahapatra said.
* Andhra puts 6 districts on high alert; round-the-clock control room at Secretariat
Andhra Pradesh Disaster Management Commissioner T Radha has said that six districts in the state have been put on high alert.
Saying that the government is geared up to face the cyclone, Radha said, “We have been stocking essential commodities in advance.. once the cyclone crosses we expect 20 villages to be cut off.. so we are making necessary arrangements."
Andhra Pradesh has set up a round-the-clock control room in the Secretariat.
The control room numbers are: 040-23456005/23451043 and Fax- 040-23451819.
* Cyclone Phailin heading towards Odisha gains strength
The severe cyclonic storm 'Phailin' over the Bay of Bengal has gained strength, and intensified further, officials said on Friday as it moved towards Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast.
The storm over east central Bay of Bengal moved westwards, slightly intensified further and lay centred about 590 km south-southeast of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and 600 km southeast of Gopalpur in Ganjam district, SC Sahu, director of Bhubaneswar meteorological centre said.
It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur (Odisha) by Saturday evening as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 205-215 kmph, he said.
The state government said it was making adequate preparation to deal with the disaster that expects to cause large scale devastations mostly in state's coastal southern districts.
"We had a number of reviews about the impending cyclone. The government is fully prepared," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said.
* Odisha cancels Durga puja festivities as Cyclone Phailin intensifies
Durga puja festivities in Odisha have been cancelled as the state prepares for Cyclone Phailin which could be the worst since 1999 when 10,000 people died.
The Air Force, Navy and national disaster management team have already been put on stand-by, while the rapid action force has deployed its forces on the ground.
People in the low lying areas of the state will be evacuated by Saturday evening.
The cyclone is moving nothwest at a speed of 175-188 km/h and is likely to hit Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur in Odisha. The Met Department has issued a warning that the speed could touch 215 km/hour by Saturday evening.
source:http://www.dnaindia.com/
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