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| India's Cyclone Phailin leaves trail of destruction | India's Cyclone Phailin leaves trail of destruction |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Indian disaster teams have begun a relief operation after Cyclone Phailin crashed into eastern areas, forcing up to one million people to flee. | Indian disaster teams have begun a relief operation after Cyclone Phailin crashed into eastern areas, forcing up to one million people to flee. |
| Officials are assessing the damage and providing food to hundreds of thousands who spent the night in shelters. | 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. | 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. | 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. | In 1999 a cyclone killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa. |
| But the authorities said they were better prepared this time. | 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. | 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. | He says their efforts appear to have paid off. |
| The massive storm made landfall on Saturday, packing winds of about 200km/h (125mph). | |
| It was weakening on Sunday as it made its way north-west. | It was weakening on Sunday as it made its way north-west. |
| In Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, crews were using axes and rope to clear fallen trees from roads. | In Orissa's state capital, Bhubaneswar, crews were using axes and rope to clear fallen trees from roads. |
| "We've just started to assess the damage and coastal areas will have fared worse," said crew leader Upendra Malik. | "We've just started to assess the damage and coastal areas will have fared worse," said crew leader Upendra Malik. |
| The storm tore down power and communication lines and knocked out road and rail links, making an assessment difficult. | The storm tore down power and communication lines and knocked out road and rail links, making an assessment difficult. |
| But officials were confident that a massive loss of life had been avoided. | But officials were confident that a massive loss of life had been avoided. |
| "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. | "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. |
| He said the evacuation was the biggest in India's history for such an event. | He said the evacuation was the biggest in India's history for such an event. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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." | |
| Up to 25cm 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. |
| 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, one of the worst-affected areas, 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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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