INDIA : Cyclone Phailin makes landfall near Gopalpur in Odisha

Cyclonic storm Phailin slammed Gopalpur in Odisha at 9.15 pm on Saturday, triggering heavy rains and strong winds with speed reaching up to 200 km an hour. Moments after the cyclone hit the town, shards of glass and asbestos strips could be seen whipping through the air “like killer projectiles”.

He added that he had not “heard of any large numbers of people becoming casualties” as of yet.

With landfall in less than 24 hours (Saturday Oct. 12 in the afternoon, India time), final preparations are underway in India for Cyclone Phailin—now officially the strongest storm ever measured in the Indian Ocean. The image above shows the storm’s core as it approaches the coastline. (See our earlier coverage on why Phailin’s landfall in this particularly volatile part of India is especially unwelcome.)

Charity Save the Children has that he fears there will “severe damage”, after a huge cyclone hit the east coastline of India.

Devendra Tak, the national manager of media and communications for the charity said that despite areas being “battered”, buildings were “holding strong”.

He added that he had not “heard of any large numbers of people becoming casualties” as of yet.

MET deparment confirms that the intesity of cyclone Phailin has decreased. Heavy rains will continue for the next 48 hours.

* Cyclone Phailin caused a lot of inconvenience to air and rail travellers as many flights were cancelled while few others were diverted. However, airlines are not going to charge passengers affected by the cancelled flights.

* There has been no electricity supply in Gopalpur, Odisha, and Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh since last night.

*The cyclone has made its landfall in Andhra Pradesh, and the eye of the storm is expected to hit Odisha, according to US government website National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service.

* “Cyclone Phailin has made landfall near Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh,” says Eric Holthaus, lead Meteorologist & Weather Editor for the WeatherMob app. “The strongest winds, rain, & surge will be felt NE,” he says. Landfall…confirmed by at least one satellite estimate. It occurred near Kapaskuddi, Andhra Pradesh, India, according to him.