PHOTOS: Cyclone Phailin intensifies; Andhra Pradesh, Odisha on high alert

After remaining stationary for several hours over the sea, the cyclonic storm 'Phailin' on Thursday intensified, moving slightly northwest and lay centered at about 850 km southeast of Paradip.

The system was also located 900 km east south-east of Kalingapatnam and 950 km east-southeast of Visakhapatnam, according to the latest India Meteorological Department bulletin.

"The system would intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours. It would continue to move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by night of October 12 as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 175-185 kmph," it said.

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Under its influence, Odisha would have extreme to very heavy rainfall in many areas during in the next 24 hours.

Distant Warning Signal Number Two kept hoisted at Paradip and Gopalpur ports. Squally weather will prevail along and off Odisha coast after 12 hours.

Fishermen in the deep sea had been asked to return to the coast immediately. The sea would be rough to very rough after 12 hours, it said.

With cyclone moving towards the state’s coast, the Odisha government issued a high alert and cancelled Dusshera holidays of employees in 14 districts with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik asking collectors to ensure the safety of the people.

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The alert was issued in Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar,Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda,Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati districts.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Surjya Narayan Patro appealed to the people not to panic over the situation as the government had taken all precautionary steps.

Earlier, the state government had asked the Union home ministry to keep helicopters ready for rescue and relief operations. Special Relief Commissioner P K Mohapatra said the authorities were asked to stock food and relief materials at cyclone shelters.

All district collectors have been provided satellite phones so that they could remain in touch with the government, he said, adding mobile service providers were asked to ensure that towers are repaired immediately in case of damage.

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