Rain and high winds batter India’s east coast as ‘super cyclone’ barrels down

  • 11 years ago
ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION)

More than 450,000 people headed for higher ground on Saturday (October 12), fleeing the path of a powerful cyclone that is expected to devastate India's eastern coast.

The enormous storm system, named Phailin, was moving in from the Bay of Bengal and is expected to make landfall between Kalingapatnam in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and Paradip in the eastern state of Odisha (Orissa) between 6 and 8 p.m (local time), 1300-1500GMT.

Meteorologists are tracking its approach to the Indian coast.

The storm is expected to hit the region of Gopalpur in Odisha (Orissa) between 6 and 8 p.m (local time).

In an earlier statement, the India Meteorological Department said the cyclone Phailin was packing winds of between 210 kph (130 mph) and 220 kph (137 mph) and was expected to cause a 3.4-m (11-foot) surge in sea levels when it hit the coast.

Authorities warn of extensive damage to mud houses, as well as major disruption

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