Cyclone Phailin closing in on Gopalpur Coast: IMD chief

In its latest report, the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) on Saturday said the Very Severe Cyclonic Storm (VSCS) Phailin is rapidly approaching the coast of Odisha, and added that it is now only 90 kilometers from the Gopalpur Coast.

"The current observation of wind speed in Gopalpur is around 150 kilometers per hour, and may hit the coasts with a wind speed of 200-220 kilometers per hour," Director General of the IMD, L.S. Rathore, said.

Rathore also confirmed that the maximum storm surge will be felt in Odisha's Ganjam District.

Meanwhile, Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth on Saturday asserted that the Centre has put all disaster preparedness measures in place so that the impact of the natural disaster is minimized, and urged the people living along the coast to exercise prudence.

"In the Central Government, we are fully geared to meeting this situation, because it is a challenge we need to meet by assuring coordination (and) this we have sought to do. All the wings of government, including the NDRS, the Army, the Air Force, the Navy, the Coast Guard and other departments, whether it is Railways or Power or Water Resources or Health, they are all geared up to ensure that every measure that can be put into place for ensuring the safety and security of the affected population is put into place," Seth said.

"Above all, the people living in the coastal areas would themselves have to exercise prudence and caution," he added.

Shedding light on the preparations for relief operations, Seth said the NDRF has deployed a number of teams both in Odisha and in Andhra Pradesh. In Odisha, 26 NDRF teams along with three on standby have been deployed. In Andhra Pradesh, there are 15 teams of NDRF, with additional two on standby. "Besides these, there are an additional 30 to 25 teams, which can be deployed at short notice. ... Control rooms have been set up within every Ministry, which will work around the clock," Seth said.

Meanwhile, the Army has deployed an engineering task force, six composite relief units, four columns in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. The Air Force, on its part, has put in place two Hercules aircrafts and several helicopters, which will be on standby.

To prepare for the cyclone, the Navy has put two ships on standby, and other relief materials like diving teams have also been alerted. The Coast Guard has also put its own aircrafts and ships on standby.

Additionally, the telecom department has also prepared itself to ensure that communication links are stable during the expected disaster.

As per the latest reports, cyclonic storm Phailin is closing in towards coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh at wind speeds averaging 200-210 km per hour and is expected to hit the two states between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. today.

Massive evacuation operations have been taking place since yesterday evening, and the MET Department has confirmed that the process is almost complete in an attempt to minimize damage.

Indian Railways have cancelled seven long-route express trains including Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express. It also terminated and diverted a number of trains in view of the severe cyclone Phailin. All trains on the Howrah-Visakhapatnam route have been cancelled. The trains are likely to be cancelled tomorrow as well

As many as 17 flights from Biju Patnaik airport at Bhubaneswar have also been cancelled.