In the biggest ever evacuation, about 4.5 lakh people have been moved from the low lying areas in four coastal districts in Odisha, where Phailin – the very severe cyclonic storm is projected to make a landfall this evening.
Odisha Government officials said about 4.48 lakh people have been moved to safer locations and about 500 relief camps as the cyclonic storm is expected to hit the coast with a wind speed of 210-220 kmph between 6 and 8 pm today. Khurda, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur will be the worst affected districts, while the impact of the cyclone would be felt in a total of 14 districts.
“The evacuation is complete and we have taken all necessary steps to achieve the targeted zero casualty” said T.Pradhan, an Odisha Government official in New Delhi. About 28 National Disaster Relief Force teams have been deployed in Odisha, where the cyclonic storm is expected to make a maximum impact. About 5,000 people have been kept ready to restore the power and communications lines, he added.
Phailin, considered the worst ever cyclone in recent times was located 90 km off Gopalpur coast around 2.30 pm this afternoon. “It has intensified further and is moving at an average speed of 20 kmph. At the time of landfall, the maximum wind speed is expected to be 210-220 kmph gusting up to 230-240 kmph,” said L. S.Rathore, Director General, Indian Meteorological Department. Heavy rainfall is expected in entire Odisha and parts of Northern Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal for the next 12-24 hours.