Cyclone Phailin: Rehabilitation the biggest challenge: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik

* Heavy rainfall in Odisha for next 24 hours: IMD. Read more.

* Rehabilitation the biggest challenge: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Read more.

* Cyclone Phailin hits 90 lakh people, huge loss to crops, houses. Read more.

* Cyclone Phailin: Flood warning for Bihar,  Andhra Pradesh out of threat. Read more.

* Lord Swraj Paul praises handling of cyclone, to contribute Rs 25 lakh. Read more.

* Cyclone Phailin: Southern Odisha most affected, flooding a concern, says Jay Panda. Read more.

* Cyclone Phailin: 'Zero' loss of life says IMD chief, compliments media. Read more.

* MET department lifts the cyclone warning on Andhra Pradesh, predicts heavy rains. MET also warns Bihar to be alert, heavy rains predicted.

* Fierce Cyclone Phailin today left a trail of destruction in coastal Odisha where nearly nine lakh people were hit and crops worth Rs 2,400 crore destroyed even as one person was killed in Andhra Pradesh in a house collapse.

* Three dead in Odisha due to cyclone: NDRF. Read more.

* 60-year-old man killed as Phailin lashes Srikakulam district. Read more.

* 18 fishermen trapped in trawler return home. Read more.

* Cyclone Phailin death toll seven in Odisha. Read more.

* Wind speed is now 100 to 110 kmph: IMD.

* Our predictions were right and that helped us evacute people well in time: MET

* Cyclone Phailin leaves behind trail of destruction in Srikakulam. Read more.

* Railway signal, high-tension towers, platforms damaged in Odisha. Read more.

* Phailin leaves trail of destruction, cyclone intensity weakens Gopalpur, Srikakulam. Read more.

* World Bank concerned over cyclone Phailin. Read more.

* No impact of cyclone Phailin in West Bengal: Minister Javed Khan. Read more.

* MET department confirms that the intensity of cyclone Phailin has decreased. Heavy rains will continue for the next 48 hours.

* Armed forces on standby for rescue, relief operations as Cyclone Phailin calms down. Read more.

* Cyclone Phailin pounds India, rescue workers start to assess damage. Read more.

* Intensity of cyclone reduced to 90-100 Kmph in Odisha's Gopalpur: NDMA chief M Shashidhar Reddy. Read more.

* Fierce cyclone rips into India; 550,000 flee to shelters. Read more.

* Intensity of rainfall appears to be reducing in Bhubaneswar and neighbouring areas.

* 7 dead. Next IMD bulletin to be at 11 am on Sunday. There has been some damage to old buildings and large-scale disruption of power and communication lines. Read more.

* The cyclone is one of the reasons why Mumbai is facing a prolonged monsoon. Read how.

* While the world was glued to news channels to see the heavy damage that cyclone Phailin inflicts, more than 500 officials of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) would be slogging out whole night long and thereafter as well for continuously analysing data and issuing forecasts to help others involved in decision making and relief work. Read dna story on the MET department's work

(NASA Terra satellite image shows Tropical Cyclone Phailin over the Bay of Bengal. Photo credit - AFP)

* Cyclone Phailin expected to remain a "very severe cyclonic storm", packing winds of up to 210 kph (130 mph), into Sunday before steadily weakening as it moves inland in the states of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

* Eighteen fishermen, who had ventured out in the sea despite being warned of   Cyclone Phailin  , were still stranded on their trawler off the coast of Paradip in Odisha for the second day on Saturday. Read more.

* Cyclone Phailin makes landfall in Gopalpur, Odisha. It will remain severe for six hours, said LS Rathore, Director General, IMD. Read more.

* Army, navy air force and NDRF personnel were ready to move out in the state for rescue. Read more.

* 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. Read more.

* 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.

(Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) phtograph shows Tropical Cyclone Phailin over the Bay of Bengal. Photo credit - AFP)

*There are conflicting reports about whether Phailin has made a landfall, with the IMD reportedly telling a BBC journalist that it is still an hour away.

*Death toll touches five. Read full story.

* "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.

(Ministry of Defence (MOD) relief materials, specialist army vechiles and ambulances are loaded onto the Indian Air Force's latest strategic transport aircraft, the C-17 Globe Master in Allahabad. Phto credit - AFP)

* Arrangement of food, drinking water, medical facilities, relief and rescue operation at stations has been made by East Coast Railway, under whose jurisdiction the area that Cyclone Phailin is expected to hit falls. 

(An Indian cycle rickshaw driver makes his way through heavy cyclone rain in Berhampur city. Photo credit - AFP)

For drinking water Sintex water tanks of 2000 litre capacity have been made available and six  BTPN wagons with water have been positioned at Palasa. Read more.

* Pictured below: Men try to remove fallen trees from a road due to the rain and wind.  Photo by Ahmad Masood (REUTERS)

* TV reports suggest Cyclone Phailin is 80 kilometres away from the coast of Andhra Pradesh and it will hit the coast at a speed of 230 kilometres per hour.

* Around 445,000 people have been evacuated from the coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh where the cyclonic storm Phailin will make landfall Saturday evening, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said. Read more.

* Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Saturday said all necessary steps have been taken to evacuate people from low-lying areas, and added that relief, medical and food facilities would be supplied to people affected by Cyclone Phailin. Read more.

* List of trains that are cancelled or diverted due to cyclone Phailin.

* One of the biggest cyclones in 14 years, cyclone Phailin is expected to cause maximum damage to the Ganjam district of Odisha. About 40% of the relief and rescue teams will be stationed at Ganjam

* A visual representation of the ground information (www.saferworld.in)

* Additional information about cyclone Phailin

* Rain and wind batter Indian coast as 'super cyclone' barrels down. Read more.

* Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy  takes stock of cyclone situation; officials on alert Hyderabad. Read more.

* Jharkhand government alerts districts as Cyclone Phailin approaches Ranchi. Read more.

*Cyclone Phailin is rapidly appraoaching the coast of Odisha, just 180km away.

* Twitter India creates a list of 'Citizens, journalists and agencies tweeting about #CyclonePhailin from Odisha and Andhra Pradesh' https://twitter.com/TwitterIndia/lists/cyclone-phailin 

*Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III) has been replaced by Great Danger Signal Number Ten (GD-X) at Gopalpur and Puri Ports and Great Danger Signal Number Nine (GD-IX) at Paradip and Chandbali Ports. Read more.

* Roaring winds and heavy rains lashed coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh as cyclonic storm Phailin kept advancing from the Bay of Bengal to hit the coast by Saturday evening. Read more.

*Odisha evacuates 2.5 lakh people as cyclone Phailin approaches Bhubaneswar. Read more.

*India on red alert as "super cyclone" nears east coast

*Phailin to be one of the strongest cyclones to hit India. Read more.

*As many as 52,000 locals were today evacuated and 25,000 people accommodated in cyclone shelters in Srikakulam district in view of cyclcone Phailin which is expected to cross the shore by this evening. Read more.

* As Cyclone Phailin hits Odisha coast, potatoes sell at Rs50 per kg and box of candles at Rs90. Read the dna story

*Cyclonic storm Phailin approaching Odisha, Andhra coasts. Read more.

* Key senior officials of the Government of India are reportedly attending a meeting in the Home Ministry to review the state of preparedness for countering the after effects of Cyclone Phailin. Read more.

* Odisha sets up control rooms to make information available. Read more

* The Meteorological department said Phailin lays centered 450 km southeast of Paradip, likely to make landfall near Gopalpur in Ganjam district tomorrow

* According to Rev minister SN Patro 44,000 people in Puri, 22,430 in Ganjam, 24,900 in J'singhpur, 4,000 in K'para were evacuated to safer places

*The "very severe" storm Phailin is unlikely to turn into a "super cyclone" like the one which hit the coastal areas of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh in 1999, the MET department said on Friday. Read more.

* West Bengal takes steps to manage aftermath of Cyclone Phailin. Read more

* 12 IAF helicopters will arrive in state tomorrow, says special relief commissioner PK Mohapatra. 300 Army jawans, 50 doctors from Navy and 29 rescue teams will arrive in state tomorrow, he added. Evacuation of 6 lakh people from 7 districts is going on. Cooked food will be provided from tonight, says special relief commissioner PK Mohapatra.

* ECoR cancels 24 passenger trains for Saturday due to cyclone Phailin

* A bulletin issued by  Indian Meteorological Department gave the following advice:

Fishermen out at sea along north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coast are advised to return to coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into sea. Total suspension of fishing operations. Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas. Judicious regulation of rail and road traffic. People in affected areas to remain indoors during cyclone landfall.

* Odisha chief minister calls for calm

“I’d request everyone to not panic.. Please assist the government. Everyone from the block to the state HQ have been put on alert. The Navy and the Air Force have been informed and they will help with relief operations,” Patnaik said.

* Evacuation process begins in Andhra, Odisha

According to reports, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have reachedBhubaneswar and evacuation has begun in Odisha and north Andhra Pradesh.

* As many as 64,000 people in the north coastal districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh are being evacuated to safer places as 'super cyclone' Phailinis expected to hit the Bay of Bengal coast between Srikakulam and Gopalpur in Odisha by Saturday evening. Read full story

* Defence Minister AK Antony asks armed forces to be ready to move in to Odisha and AndhraPradesh in view of cyclone Phailin. Read full story

* Five day forecast

(Photo courtesy of http://www.wunderground.com)

* Heavy rainfall to hit Odisha, Andhra Pradesh coast by evening 

Rainfall in coastal areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will increase from tonight with strong winds of 200-220 kmph. The most affected districts in Odisha will be Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts; in Andhra Pradesh and Srikakulam district will be the most affected.

* What to watch out for?

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. —NDMA website

* Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, "Government is prepared, please don’t panic."

* Odisha Special Relief Commissioner PK Mohapatra says, "Phailin would be no less than 199

Andhra Pradesh has set up a round-the-clock control room in the Secretariat.

The control room numbers are: 040-23456005/23451043 and Fax- 040-23451819.

* Cyclone Phailin heading towards Odisha gains strength

The severe cyclonic storm 'Phailin' over the Bay of Bengal has gained strength, and intensified further, officials said on Friday as it moved towards Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast.

The storm over east central Bay of Bengal moved westwards, slightly intensified further and lay centred about 590 km south-southeast of Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district and 600 km southeast of Gopalpur in Ganjam district, SC Sahu, director of Bhubaneswar meteorological centre said.

It 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 205-215 kmph, he said.

The state government said it was making adequate preparation to deal with the disaster that expects to cause large scale devastations mostly in state's coastal southern districts.

"We had a number of reviews about the impending cyclone. The government is fully prepared," Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said. Read full story

* Odisha cancels Durga puja festivities as Cyclone Phailin intensifies

Durga puja festivities in Odisha have been cancelled as the state prepares for Cyclone Phailin which could be the worst since 1999 when 10,000 people died.

The Air Force, Navy and national disaster management team have already been put on stand-by, while the rapid action force has deployed its forces on the ground.

People in the low lying areas of the state will be evacuated by Saturday evening.

The cyclone is moving nothwest at a speed of 175-188 km/h and is likely to hit Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur in Odisha. The Met Department has issued a warning that the speed could touch 215 km/hour by Saturday evening.

* Met department suspends fishing as cyclone Phailin inches closer

The Met office in Hyderabad has recommended the total suspension of fishing operations, and has asked for judicious regulation of rail and road traffic from Friday, when the cyclone would be at a distance of 500 km from the coast.

* Andhra CM asks authorities to shift people from low-lying areas if necessary

In Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed senior officials to take precautionary measures in coastal areas. According to an official release, people in low-lying areas have been instructed to be shifted to safer places if necessary. Read full story

* Odisha seeks support from defence forces as cyclone Phailin intensifies

Odisha government has urged the Centre to issue standing instructions to the defence forces to extend help as cyclone Phailin may hit the state on Saturday.

“Our past experience indicates that despite preparedness by the state government, a severe cyclonic storm requires support of the defence forces to mitigate the effect of extreme weather,” Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote in a letter to Defence Minister AK Antony.

Twenty three districts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh are likely to be hit by cyclone Phailin within the next 24 hours as authorities brace themselves for what the met department defines as  ’most severe’ cyclonic storm.

Phailin is expected to cross the coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip by Saturday evening.

* Satellite images show the storm in the Bay of Bengal to be about half the size of India. Cyclone Phailin is expected to hit between Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh state and Paradip in Odisha state on Saturday evening as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 205-215 km per hour (127-134 miles per hour), the India Meteorological Department said in a bulletin at 2330 GMT.

* London-based storm tracking service Tropical Storm Risk described Phailin as a Category 4 storm, one notch below the most powerful Category 5 storms.

People's reactions to Phailin on Twitter

Heart this morning is with people of Odisha & Andhra over #Phailin threat. Stay safe, people.

— vijay thakkar (@vikingthakkar) October 12, 2013

#Cyclone #Phailin - Stay Safe - Key Emergency contacts by Digital volunteershttp://t.co/eKrpKxnntB #Aryapalli #Brahmapur #Humuribana

— MUSTARD SEED (@MAZHAR_ALI) October 12, 2013

Super Cyclone #Phailin's inner core is still growing. Latest satellite animation:http://t.co/DuXGAFRisT ||| #India

— Shekhar (@ShekharMahajan) October 12, 2013

Cyclone #Phailin. approaching.Bhubanesawr - No Electricity and wind speed increasing drastically with heavy rain fall in now. BE SAFE ALL.

— Gyanendra Tripathy. (@gktripathy) October 12, 2013

Cyclone #Phailin : May all the people of Odisha & AP be safe & protective with the range of this nature's violent disaster. #Prayers

— Divya (@dipziebaby) October 12, 2013

@mandybedi AP has set up a round-the-clock control room for assistance #Phailin No.s are 040-23456005/23451043. Odisha: 0674-2534177

— Pulkit Pagaria (@ppagaria92) October 12, 2013

Cyclone #Phailin's inner core is still growing. Latest satellite animation: http://t.co/MnuIqQeSOt

— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) October 12, 2013