DHAKA: The Phailin cyclone, that has brought Odisha bitter memories of a similar 1999 disaster that killed 10,000 people, is apprehended to hit landfall at Gopalpur at 8:00pm local time on Saturday.

The sea has turned turbulent forcing the fishing vessels that had ventured into the deep sea to return, while authorities are busy trucking thousands of villagers from their mud and thatch coastal homes to government shelters inland.

Heavy rains in port city of Paradeep, wind speeds of 70kmph reported. Stranded railway passengers take shelter in Railway Kalyan Mandap in Puri.

There is a total shutdown in Odisha capital Bhubaneswar, 150-160km off Gopalpur where the cyclone is set to hit.

Three died after uprooted trees fell on them, due to heavy rainfall and strong winds, reports Hindustan Times.

While a 35-year-old man of Garama village in Jagatsinghpur district died after a tree fell on him amidst gusty winds, a 42-year-old woman also met the same fate.

A man also succumbed to injuries after a tree fell on him at Khalikote area in Ganjam district, police said, adding the deceased was yet to be identified.

Rain and heavy winds lashing coastal Odisha and wind picking up speed as Weather condition has deteriorated all over Odisha.

Gopalpur in Ganjam, is expected to bear the extreme brunt of the cyclone. Wind speed in Gopalpur is consistently increasing and has currently hit 150kmph.

Wind speed in Berhampur, a sub-division of Ganjam district and only 70km away from Gopalpur, too has reached around 150kmph and complete power shut down in seven districts, including Bhubaneswar.

BDST: 1929 HRS, OCT 12, 2013
RoR/RIS