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Evacuations as Cyclone Hudhud approaches Indian coast Cyclone Hudhud bears down on India's Andra Pradesh, Orissa
(about 3 hours later)
A mass evacuation is taking place in India's south-eastern coast as Cyclone Hudhud moves towards land. The outer bands of Cyclone Hudhud are striking the eastern Indian coast, causing extensive damage and prompting the evacuation of 300,000 people.
Around 150,000 people have already left their homes in the coastal state of Andhra Pradesh, and hundreds of relief centres have been opened, The cyclone, classed "very severe" and bringing winds of up to 195km/h (120mph), is expected to make landfall in the next hour near Visakhapatnam.
The cyclone, classed "very severe" by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), will hit Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states in the coming hours. Hundreds of trees have already been uprooted and power lines brought down in Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states.
The IMD predicts the storm will bring winds of up to 195km/h (120mph). It is feared a storm surge of up to two metres could inundate low-lying areas.
Authorities in Orissa say they could instruct a further 300,000 people to move further inland or into safer buildings. Hundreds of relief centres have been opened in the two states.
The strength of the cyclone has been revised upwards since Friday, and the Indian Navy is on standby to assist.The strength of the cyclone has been revised upwards since Friday, and the Indian Navy is on standby to assist.
Disaster relief teams are also being sent to the two states which will bear the brunt of the storm.Disaster relief teams are also being sent to the two states which will bear the brunt of the storm.
'Fully geared' Flooding fears
"I'm in Vizag, where we expect Hudhud to make a landfall in a few hours," local journalist Hridayesh Joshi told the BBC. The streets of Visakhapatnam are largely deserted.
"The situation is becoming increasingly bad. There is very strong wind and rain right now - objects are flying and smashing things. K Hymavathi, the special commissioner for disaster management for Andhra Pradesh state, told Reuters: "Hundreds of trees have been uprooted and power lines knocked down."
"We are relatively safe in the centre of town, but the danger is for those in open areas Sometimes landfall is not as bad as predicted, so we are hoping it won't get much worse," Mr Joshi added. Local journalist Hridayesh Joshi told the BBC from Visakhapatnam: "The situation is becoming increasingly bad. There is very strong wind and rain right now - objects are flying and smashing things.
In its latest report, the IMD said sea conditions would become "phenomenal" off the north Andhra Pradesh coast when the cyclone hits land. "We are relatively safe in the centre of town, but the danger is for those in open areas. Sometimes landfall is not as bad as predicted, so we are hoping it won't get much worse."
In its latest report, the India Meteorological Department said sea conditions would become "phenomenal" off the north Andhra Pradesh and south Orissa coasts.
It also warned that a storm surge of up to two metres would "inundate low-lying areas of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam".It also warned that a storm surge of up to two metres would "inundate low-lying areas of Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam".
The director of the Bhubaneswar centre of the IMD, Sarat Sahu, told the BBC that Hudhud was "likely to trigger heavy rains in most parts of south Orissa and the neighbouring states of Chhattisgarh and Telengana", raising fears of heavy flooding.
Pradeep Kumar Mohapatra, a special relief commissioner, said that authorities were ready.Pradeep Kumar Mohapatra, a special relief commissioner, said that authorities were ready.
"The administration is fully geared," he said. "The collectors (senior government officials) have been given total clearance to take up any evacuation wherever necessary for vulnerable areas which are likely to be inundated.""The administration is fully geared," he said. "The collectors (senior government officials) have been given total clearance to take up any evacuation wherever necessary for vulnerable areas which are likely to be inundated."
A super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.A super-cyclone in 1999 killed more than 10,000 people in Orissa.
Last October as many as 500,000 people in India were evacuated when a severe cyclone called Phailin swept through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states.Last October as many as 500,000 people in India were evacuated when a severe cyclone called Phailin swept through Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states.
India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property.India's eastern coast and Bangladesh are routinely hit by cyclonic storms between April and November which cause deaths and widespread damage to property.
Do you live in areas expected to be hit by Cyclone Hudhud? Send us your experiences by emailing to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Do you live in areas expected to be hit by Cyclone Hudhud? Send us your experiences by emailing to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.