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| Cyclone Phailin makes landfall in India | Cyclone Phailin makes landfall in India |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A huge cyclone that has forced as many as 500,000 people to flee their homes has made landfall in eastern India. | A huge cyclone that has forced as many as 500,000 people to flee their homes has made landfall in eastern India. |
| Winds were measured at 200 km/h (125mph) as Cyclone Phailin hit the coast near Gopalpur, Orissa state, at about 21:15 (15:45 GMT). | Winds were measured at 200 km/h (125mph) as Cyclone Phailin hit the coast near Gopalpur, Orissa state, at about 21:15 (15:45 GMT). |
| Authorities had predicted a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was expected to cause extensive damage. | Authorities had predicted a storm surge of at least 3m (10ft) that was expected to cause extensive damage. |
| Officials say they are better prepared than in 1999 when a cyclone killed thousands of people in Orissa. | Officials say they are better prepared than in 1999 when a cyclone killed thousands of people in Orissa. |
| Cyclone Phailin has been classed as "very severe", and the head of India's Meteorological Office, LS Rathore, said it would remain in that category for six hours before losing strength. | Cyclone Phailin has been classed as "very severe", and the head of India's Meteorological Office, LS Rathore, said it would remain in that category for six hours before losing strength. |
| The eye of the storm was moving at 10-15 km/h (6-9mph), he said. | The eye of the storm was moving at 10-15 km/h (6-9mph), he said. |
| The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reported heavy rain and high winds lashing Gopalpur as the cyclone made landfall. | The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder reported heavy rain and high winds lashing Gopalpur as the cyclone made landfall. |
| 'Apocalyptic devastation' | 'Apocalyptic devastation' |
| The storm has ripped up trees and road signs, and cut power supplies in some areas. There were reports of window panes being shattered and roofs being blown off. | The storm has ripped up trees and road signs, and cut power supplies in some areas. There were reports of window panes being shattered and roofs being blown off. |
| Five deaths were linked to the cyclone by Indian media, four attributed to falling trees and one to a house collapse. | Five deaths were linked to the cyclone by Indian media, four attributed to falling trees and one to a house collapse. |
| Another BBC reporter, Andrew North, spoke of a scene of apocalyptic devastation in Brahmapur, just inland from where the cyclone reached the coast. | Another BBC reporter, Andrew North, spoke of a scene of apocalyptic devastation in Brahmapur, just inland from where the cyclone reached the coast. |
| Store signs and other debris were being pitched high in the air by storm gusts and elaborate decorations for a major Hindu festival were strewn over the main road. | Store signs and other debris were being pitched high in the air by storm gusts and elaborate decorations for a major Hindu festival were strewn over the main road. |
| Officials had earlier said that no-one would be allowed to stay in mud and thatched houses along the coast of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states, but some residents said they wanted to stay put. | Officials had earlier said that no-one would be allowed to stay in mud and thatched houses along the coast of Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states, but some residents said they wanted to stay put. |
| "Many people refused to move, had to be convinced, and at times the police had to forcefully move them to safe places," said Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. | "Many people refused to move, had to be convinced, and at times the police had to forcefully move them to safe places," said Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde. |
| The army has been placed on standby for emergency and relief operations. Helicopters and food packages were ready to be dropped in the storm-affected areas. | The army has been placed on standby for emergency and relief operations. Helicopters and food packages were ready to be dropped in the storm-affected areas. |
| Hours before the cyclone made landfall it was generating winds of 240 km/h (150mph) over the Bay of Bengal. Most of those evacuated were in Orissa state. | Hours before the cyclone made landfall it was generating winds of 240 km/h (150mph) over the Bay of Bengal. Most of those evacuated were in Orissa state. |
| Sushant Sahoo, a resident of Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, told the BBC that it had been raining there since the morning, and the streets were empty. | Sushant Sahoo, a resident of Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, told the BBC that it had been raining there since the morning, and the streets were empty. |
| "We have no electricity, it is very dark right now and very grim," he said. | |
| "I have dry food and candles. The local government has been good at getting everyone prepared and taking care of people." | "I have dry food and candles. The local government has been good at getting everyone prepared and taking care of people." |
| India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November that cause deaths and widespread damage to property. | India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November that cause deaths and widespread damage to property. |
| In December 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu, killing dozens of people. | In December 2011, Cyclone Thane hit the southern state of Tamil Nadu, killing dozens of people. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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