Cyclone Phailin: Tense night for Odisha ahead of storm, red alert sounded

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12.55 am: If you are in the Cyclone danger zone: Check the house; secure loose tiles, carry out repair works for doors and windows. Remove dead woods or dying trees close to the house; anchor removable objects like lumber piles, loose tin sheds, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards etc. which can fly in strong winds. Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed. Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches and enough dry cells. Keep some extra batteries for transistors. Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for emergency use. (Information source - NDMA website) 12.37 am: Latest IMD update: The storm is about 380 km south-southeast of Paradip, 360 km southeast of Gopalpur, and 360 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur (Odisha) by Saturday evening. 12.26 am (Saturday): Sea water breaches sand dunes in Mukkam village in Vizianagaram district in Andhra, has entered 60 meters into the village. 11.55 pm: Odisha government has sought RBI`s support for smooth relief payments as the storm is set to hit Gopalpur in Ganjam district. 11.34 pm: More than 1,600 NDRF personnel have been dispatched to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh as part of preparations to tackle the storm danger. 10.59 pm: Odisha has opened control rooms for the cyclone. The helpline number of the Odisha Central Control Room is 0674-2534177, PTI report. The district control room mumbers are : Mayurbhanj 06792-252759, Jajpur 06728-222648, Gajapati 06815-222943, Dhenkanal 06762-221376, Khurda 06755-220002, Keonjhar 06766-255437, Cuttack 0671-2507842, Ganjam 06811-263978, Puri 06752-223237, Kendrapara 06727-232803, Jagatsinghpur 06724-220368, Balasore 06782-262674, Bhadrak 06784-251881. 10.33 pm: It is estimated that around 1.2 crore people in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh will be affected by cyclone Phailin. 9.57 pm: As the storm intensifies, red alert has been sounded in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. 9.21 pm: Cyclone Phailin is about 400 km south-southeast of Paradip, 400 km southeast of Gopalpur, and 410 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam. 8.53 pm: Tourists have started leaving their hotels in Gopalpur and Puri in Odisha in the wake of a storm striking tomorrow. 8.37 pm: Paradip Port has shut all cargo operations, plants and machinery and put in place a contingency plan to meet any eventuality due to the storm, PTI report. 8.04 pm: The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), a Hawaii-based forecasting outpost of the US Navy, which has classified the storm of most powerful category 5, said Cyclone Phailin`s wind speed could touch 315 kmph on landfall. 7.42 pm: If you are in the Cyclone danger zone: Check the house; secure loose tiles, carry out repair works for doors and windows. Remove dead woods or dying trees close to the house; anchor removable objects like lumber piles, loose tin sheds, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards etc. which can fly in strong winds. Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed. Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches and enough dry cells. Keep some extra batteries for transistors. Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for emergency use. (Information source - NDMA website) 7.28 pm: As the storm intensifies NDRF has deployed 23 rescue teams in Odisha and 11 in Andhra Pradesh. 7.03 pm: The MeT depratment fears that there may be flood-like situations and also breaking of communication lines. 6.37 pm: NDMA says it is well prepared for the severe storm and that it won`t be a repeat of 1999 storm disaster. 6.19 pm: Latest update from IMD: Latest update from IMD: The storm 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 210-220 kmph. 5.33 pm: The MeT department has advised total cancellation of fishing operations along Odisha and Andhra coasts. 5.02 pm: Odisha government has set a zero casualty target as the `super storm` approaches the state`s coast. 4.30 pm: Evacuation of 64,000 people from low-lying areas from north coastal Andhra districts. 4 pm: Danger signal number 3 hoisted at Kalingapatnam, Vizag, Bhimili, Kakinada and Gangavaram ports – the port is threatened by squally weather. 3.55 pm: IAF’s two C130J Super Hercules aircraft, two AN-32s and 18 helicopters on standby as Phailin nears coast. 3.30 pm: East Coast Railway to regulate and cancel about 24 passenger trains between Visakhapatnam and Bhadrak on the Howrah-Chennai Main Line route tommorow in view of Cyclone Phailin which is expected to hit the eastern coast, PTI reports. The trains which will either be regulated and cancelled are Puri-Cuttack-Puri passenger, Paradeep-Cuttack passenger, Cuttack-Paradeep passenger, Puri-Gunupur-Puri passenger, Puri-Rourkela passenger, Puri-Cuttack passenger, Bhadrak-Cuttack-Bhadrak passenger and Cuttack-Palasa-Cuttack passenger trains, an ECoR official said. 3.15 pm: Fearing the worse, people are queuing up at petrol stations and stocking up food in Odisha. 3.10 pm: The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), a Hawaii-based forecasting outpost of the US Navy, has put the strength of Cyclone Phailin as that of a Category 5 Hurricane - the Indian Ocean equivalent is a super cyclonic storm. However, the IMD has categorised Phailin a notch below and termed it as a `very severe` cyclonic storm. A hurricane is classified as Category 5 when it gains a speed of over 120 knots/220 kmph. As per the latest data released by JTWC, Phailin may clock 140 knots in wind speed with gusts reaching 170 knots. 2.45 pm: Latest update from IMD: The Indian met department continued to categorise Cyclone Phailin as a very severe cyclonic storm. At 11.30 am it lay centred over west central Bay of Bengal at a distance of about 500 km south-southeast of Paradip, 490 km southeast of Gopalpur, and 500 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 210-220 kmph. 2.30 pm First cyclonic winds felt on the coast and in the state capital, Bhubaneswar. 2.25 pm: Thousands flee to shelter homes stocked with emergency food supplies and medicines. 2 pm: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams reach Bhubaneswar. Evacuations begin in Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh. 1.40 pm: Defence Minister A K Antony asks armed forces to be ready to move in to Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in view of cyclone Phailin. 1.30 pm: If you are in the Cyclone danger zone: Check the house; secure loose tiles, carry out repair works for doors and windows. Remove dead woods or dying trees close to the house; anchor removable objects like lumber piles, loose tin sheds, loose bricks, garbage cans, sign-boards etc. which can fly in strong winds. Keep some wooden boards ready so that glass windows can be boarded if needed. Keep a hurricane lantern filled with kerosene, battery operated torches and enough dry cells. Keep some extra batteries for transistors. Keep some dry non-perishable food always ready for emergency use. (Information source - NDMA website) 1.05 pm: Government is prepared, please don’t panic, says Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik 1 pm: Orissa Special Relief Commissioner PK Mohapatra says Phailin would be “no less than 1999 supercyclone” 12.17 pm: Latest update from IMD: Very severe cyclonic storm Phailin over east central Bay of Bengal remained stationery and lay centred at 08.30 am about 520 km south-southeast of Paradip, 530km southeast of Gopalpur, and 530km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by evening of October 12 (Saturday. At landfall Cyclone Phailin will have a maximum sustained wind speed of 210-220 kmph. 12.10 pm: Indian Air Force choppers on standby in West Bengal to move in with help at short notice. Odisha government makes arrangements for over lakh food packets. 12 pm: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviews state’s preparedness to face the impact of Cyclone Phailin. All striking electricity employees in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema against creation of Telangana have temporarily called off their agitation in view of the cyclone threat. 11.55 am: More than 5,000 families from the low lying areas of Puri moved to safer places, the authorities plan to move more than 30,000 others later in the day. 11.50 am: In Ganjam district, which is expected to be worst hit, the authorities have started preparation to move at least 100,000 families to safer places. 11.30 am: Odisha government may forcefully evacuate people living in kutcha houses in areas that fall in the direct path of incoming cyclone Phailin. 11.20 am: Andhra Pradesh control room numbers: 040-23456005/23451043. 11.15 am: Odisha government cancels Durga Puja holidays of government employees. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has sought the help of defence forces. 10.35 am: Latest update from IMD: At 5.30 am IST, Cyclone Phailin lay centred about 520 km south-southeast of Paradip, 530 km southeast of Gopalpur, and 530 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur (Odisha), by evening of October 12, 2013 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 205-215 kmph. The IMD has predicted a storm surge with height of around 2.5-3.0 meters and would inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh during landfall. 10.30 am: Tropical Storm Risk, a London-based storm tracking service, has categorised Phailin as a Category 4 storm, one notch below the most powerful Category 5 storm. 10.15 am: Phailin to make landfall near Brahmapur in Ganjam district. Known as ‘Silk City’, Brahmapur is located about 160 kilometres south of the state capital, Bhubaneswar. 10.00 am: Odisha state control number: 0674-2534177. District control room numbers: Ganjam 06811-263978, Puri 06752-223237, Kendrapara 06727-232803, Jagatsinghpur 06724-220368, Balasore 06782-262674, Bhadrak 06784-251881, Mayurbhanj 06792-252759, Jajpur 06728-222648, Gajapati 06815-222943, Dhenkanal 06762-221376, Khurda 06755-220002, Keonjhar 06766-255437 and Cuttak 0671-2507842. 9.30 am: The IMD has predicted a storm surge with height of around 2.0-2.5 meteres. Low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts and Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh may get inundated. 8.45 am: The National Disaster Response Force has put 28 and 15 teams in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh respectively on standby to meet any eventuality. 8.30 am: As per experts, waters over the Bay of Bengal are exceptionally warm right now — more than 28°C – the threshold above which rapid intensification of tropical cyclones is most likely. 8.00 am: Rains lash Odisha and parts of Andhra Pradesh; to intensify further tomorrow. 7.30 am: Experts predict that Phailin holds the potential to be as big as Hurricane Katrina that had devastated the US east coast in 2005. 6.40 am: Cyclone Phailin—pronounced pie-leen; it’s a Thai word for “sapphire”. 6.30 am: The Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC), a Hawaii-based forecasting outpost of the US Navy, says Phailin is undergoing “extreme rapid intensification". 5.45 am: The Cyclonic storm will hit land with a maximum sustained wind speed of 205-215 kmph. 5.37 am: Phailin would cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, close to Gopalpur (Odisha) by early afternoon or evening tomorrow. 5.35 am: Phailin lay over east central Bay of Bengal and moved westward and lay centred at 02.30 am IST near latitude 15.50N and longitude 89.000E, about 590km south-southeast of Paradip, 600km southeast of Gopalpur, and 600km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam. 5.30 am: Cyclone Phailin has intensified further and is heading straight for the Odisha coast. It has been categorised as a very severe cyclonic storm by the Indian Metrological Department. In 1999, the Odisha cyclone – taking a similar course to Phailin – made landfall as a category 4 cyclone with 155 mph sustained winds. It left over 10,000 people dead.