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India hammered as Cyclone Phailin races inland India's Cyclone Phailin leaves trail of destruction
(about 3 hours later)
A powerful cyclone has hammered eastern India overnight, bringing down power lines, ripping up trees and sending seawater surging inland. Indian disaster teams have begun a relief operation after Cyclone Phailin crashed into eastern areas, forcing up to one million people to flee.
Almost half a million people have been evacuated from the path of Cyclone Phailin in Orissa state and neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Officials are assessing the damage and providing food to hundreds of thousands who spent the night in shelters.
The cyclone wrecked many coastal homes, uprooted trees and blocked roads in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states.
Five deaths have so far been linked to the cyclone, far fewer than were initially feared.
In 1999 a cyclone killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.
But the authorities said they were better prepared this time.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Berhampur, Orissa, says the authorities made massive effort to get the message out to people, many of whom were reluctant to leave their homes.
He says their efforts appear to have paid off.
The massive storm made landfall on Saturday, packing winds of up to 200km/h (125mph).The massive storm made landfall on Saturday, packing winds of up to 200km/h (125mph).
Five deaths have so far been linked to the cyclone. It was weakening on Sunday as it made its way north-west.
In 1999 a cyclone killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa, although authorities say they are better prepared this time. In Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, crews were using axes and rope to clear fallen trees from roads.
At daybreak on Sunday there was an anxious wait to see the extent of the damage. "We've just started to assess the damage and coastal areas will have fared worse," said crew leader Upendra Malik.
Communications are down in many areas with road and rail links closed, making an assessment even more difficult. The storm tore down power and communication lines and knocked out road and rail links, making an assessment difficult.
The Times of India reported that a storm surge more than 3m (9ft) high had inundated areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Orissa and the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh. But officials were confident that a massive loss of life had been avoided.
In the Orissa state capital of Bhubaneshwar, government workers and volunteers were assembling hundreds of thousands of food packages for relief camps. "We were preparing for a super cyclone, but Phailin did not turn into a super cyclone," disaster official Tripti Parule told the AFP news agency.
Bhubaneswar shop owner Susil Kumar Singh was one of only a few traders keeping his store open. He said the evacuation was the biggest in India's history for such an event.
"Everyone's in trouble so I've kept my shop open to help them," he told AFP news agency. The Times of India reported that a storm surge more than 3m (9ft) high had flooded areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts of Orissa and the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.
"Right now, there's no drinking water and trees are falling down all around." Many villages are still said to be surrounded by water.
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik appealed for calm.
"I request everyone to not panic," he said.
"Please assist the government. Everyone from the villages to the state headquarters has been put on alert."
The Indian Army's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said 1,200 troops had been sent to Orissa and 500 to Andhra Pradesh.The Indian Army's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) said 1,200 troops had been sent to Orissa and 500 to Andhra Pradesh.
"As soon as the fury of the cyclone abates our boys will start their work," NDRF director general Krishna Chaudhary told reporters."As soon as the fury of the cyclone abates our boys will start their work," NDRF director general Krishna Chaudhary told reporters.
"The teams have medical first responders (for first aid) and heavy cutting equipment. In the case of cyclones there is a likelihood of collapsed buildings.""The teams have medical first responders (for first aid) and heavy cutting equipment. In the case of cyclones there is a likelihood of collapsed buildings."
Up to 25cm (10in) of rain is predicted for Orissa and the north coast of Andhra Pradesh throughout Sunday and Monday, forecasters said. Up to 25cm of rain is predicted for Orissa and the north coast of Andhra Pradesh throughout Sunday and Monday, forecasters said.
Flying glass In the coastal town of Gopalpur, one of the worst-affected areas, hundreds of terrified residents spent the night huddled in shelters, schools and public buildings.
In the coastal town of Gopalpur, hundreds of terrified residents spent the night huddled in shelters, schools and public buildings.
Witnesses reported seeing shards of glass and asbestos sheets flying through the air as the cyclone struck.Witnesses reported seeing shards of glass and asbestos sheets flying through the air as the cyclone struck.
On Saturday, BBC reporter Andrew North spoke of a scene of apocalyptic devastation in Brahmapur, just inland from where the cyclone reached the coast. Shop 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.
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