A huge cyclone is centered at a distance of 400 kilometers South-South East from Gopalpur in Bay of Bengal to cause a massive devastation in the coastal belt particularly Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Srikakulam districts and Odisha. From Kalingapatnem in Srikakulam district the Phailin cyclone is centered at a distance of 410 kilometers North East-East.
It is estimated that the cyclone will give winds blowing at a speed of 210 to 220 Kilometers per hour at the time of crossing the shore happening of which is reckoned as between 6.00 pm and 12.00 midnight.
At present Srikakulam district is under heavy rains. 37 rehabilitation camps are made available to the people residing at cyclone prone areas. The Government declared holidays in the district. The general public is warned against coming out of their houses till Sunday evening under any circumstances. The tides are going up to 4 feet high. Sea waters came to the front Pusapatirega and Bhogapuram mandals. At 23 villages the sea water came up to 20 to 40 feet. Nets and boats at the shore have gone. The District Collector Kantilal Dande asked the fishermen not to venture in the sea. Drinking water supply is ensured in the municipalities.
Nine passenger trains are cancelled in Visakha zone. Visakha-Bhuvaneswar flight is cancelled.
-SriJa
