CYCLONE PHAILIN LIVE: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh directs government agencies to extend all possible help to Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
Men try to remove fallen trees from a road due to the rain and wind in Odisha on October 12, 2013. Reuters
Phailin the Super Cyclone hit the coast at about 8.20 pm on Saturday evening, but with a much reduced force than what was feared. At a windspeed of just about 200 km per hour, the eye of the storm made landfall just a few kilometres southeast of Gopalpur, the beach holiday town. The town reported six deaths even before the real gale force hit it. Mostly because of falling trees. Very heavy rains are pounding the area and this is not going to stop for the next 6 to 10 hours.
The storm coasted at the time of low tide, and the surge in sea was at 3.5 metres. In 1999, when the storm was headed towards flatland, the storm surge led to massive inland flooding. This time the storm hit an area that has hills blocking water. And unlike 1999, this time the government and the people of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were prepared to face the cyclone.
The storm coasted at the time of low tide, and the surge in sea was at 3.5 metres. In 1999, when the storm was headed towards flatland, the storm surge led to massive inland flooding. This time the storm hit an area that has hills blocking water. And unlike 1999, this time the government and the people of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were prepared to face the cyclone.
1.25 am: Govt, Cong to do utmost to stand up to cyclone-hit states
Boys sleep on the floor of a wedding hall after leaving their house to take shelter from the impact of Cyclone Phailin, in Odisha. Reuters
Gandhi has been in constant touch with Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, taking regular stock of the ground situation in the two states.
Gandhi, who has been continously monitoring the developments, said her prayers and that of the entire Congress party are with the people of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh "in this hour of great natural calamity".
High tide waves approach the Bay of Bengal coast near Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers from Bhubaneswar. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout)
"The Congress party and the government have been and will be doing every thing possible to stand up to any eventuality and every emergent situation" Gandhi said.
Six coloums of Army from Ranchi to Bhubaneshwar and four coloums from Vishakapatnam to districts in Andhra Pradeash have been dispatched and put into action as part of relief and rescue efforts. In addition, one engineering team of the Army is on the stand by for any eventuality.
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