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India prepares for Cyclone Phailin
October 10, 2013, 2:35 pm

[AP]

Warnings to return to shore have been issued to fishermen at sea [AP]

India is bracing itself by stockpiling food and relief materials as Cyclone Phailin hurtles towards the country’s southeastern coast.

The Indian Meteorological Department has issued a “very severe cyclone alert” with a maximum sustained wind speed of 175-185 kmph for the eastern Indian state of Odisha and southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

The weather body in New Delhi said it expects extensive damage to houses, partial disruption of power and communication lines, minor disruption to rail and road traffic and flooding of escape routes.

Extensive damage to agricultural crops has also been forecast as severe rain and gale winds are expected.

Warnings to return to shore have been issued to fishermen at sea in the state of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

Authorities have also been asked to prepare evacuation procedures in coastal areas and stock food and relief materials at cyclone shelters.

Helicopters and satellite phones have been readied for rescue and relief operations.

The warning has raised fresh concerns of the cyclone turning into a super cyclone.

A super cyclone in 1999 struck 14 coastal districts of Odisha and left tens of thousands dead.

The helpline number of the Odisha Central Control Room is 0674—2534177, the sources said.

District control room numbers are as follows:

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

Source: Agencies