However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has categorised Phailin a notch below and termed it as a very severe cyclonic storm, but a severe one that the Super Cyclone that hit the Odisha coast in 1999. Tropical Storm Risk, a London-based storm tracking service, has categorised Phailin as a Category 4 storm, one notch below the most powerful Category 5 storm.

A hurricane is classified as Category 5 when it gains a speed of over 120 knots/220 kmph. As per the latest data released by JTWC, Phailin may clock 140 knots in wind speed with gusts reaching 170 knots.

According to IMD, the cyclone formation by 11.30 am on Friday lay centred over west central Bay of Bengal at a distance of about 500 km south-southeast of Paradip in Odisha, 490 km southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha, and 500 km east-southeast of Kalingapatnam in Andhra Pradesh. It would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coast between Kalingapatnam and Paradip, as a very severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 210-220 kmph.

The Indian Defence Minister AK Antony On Friday directed the three Services-Army, Air Force and the Navy to be in full readiness to provide all support in view of the impending cyclone, Phailin, forecast to hit the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coast Saturday evening. Ministry of Defence has received requests from the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh governments for rescue and relief operations including the air support in the aftermath of the approaching Cyclone. Antony also discussed the issue with the Defence Secretary RK Mathur in the morning.

Two IAF IL-76 have been despatched this morning with National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and equipment to Bhubneswar. Other IAF assets are on stand-by at various bases including- Raipur, Nagpur, Jagdalpur, Barrackpore, Ranchi and Gwalior. IAF has committed two C130J Super Hercules aircraft, 18 helicopters, including Mi -17V5 and two AN-32s to the effort and the aircraft are already positioned to move at short notice. IAF is fully geared up to assist the state administration and has tasked its Eastern Air Command to coordinate the entire relief operation with a Task Force being positioned at Barrackpore.

Vishakhapatnam based Eastern Naval Command have kept multiple Indian Navy diving teams with inflatable rafts in standby mode at important locations which could be put into operations at short notices. Besides these, Navy has put some Chetak and UH-3H helicopters in standby for launching rescue and relief operations, if necessary. Disaster relief ships, as required, are also being kept by the Navy in readiness.

Army has moved its Command and control element to Bubneswar under GOC Madhya Bharat (MB) Area. One Engineer column from Bagdogra and one Medical column from Gopalpur have started moving to Bhubneshwar. Infantry columns are also stand by at Barrackpore.

In response to MoD’s directive, Coast Guard Headquarters has sensitized State Governments of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal requesting them to issue appropriate advisory to fishermen, shipping and local community.

Coast Guard units in these three States have been kept on high alert so that they can respond to any search and rescue situation at sea and in coastal areas. Coast Guard is also in constant communication with other forces and civil administration for meeting any eventuality during/post cyclone. All Coast Guard Ships and Aircraft on Eastern seaboard are kept standby to render immediate assistance to state administration.

After the first cyclonic winds felt on the coast and in Odisha state capital, Bhubaneswar at 2.30 pm on Friday, panic struck the people and the state Government. NDRF teams began evacuation in southern parts of coastal Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh.

Thousands flee to shelter homes stocked with emergency food supplies and medicines. Fearing the worse, people queue up at petrol stations and stock up on food in Odisha. More than 5,000 families from the low lying areas of Puri moved to safer places, the authorities plan to move more than 30,000 others later in the day. In Ganjam district, which is expected to be worst hit, the authorities have started preparation to move at least 100,000 families to safer places. Odisha government cancels Durga Puja holidays of government employees.

Phailin to make landfall near Brahmapur in Ganjam district. Known as ‘Silk City’, Brahmapur is located about 160 kilometres south of the state capital, Bhubaneswar.

Government is prepared, please don’t panic, said the Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

By 12 noon on Friday Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy reviews state’s preparedness to face the impact of Cyclone Phailin. All striking electricity employees in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema against creation of Telangana have temporarily called off their agitation in view of the cyclone threat.