India hammered as Cyclone Phailin races inland

A powerful cyclone has hammered eastern India
overnight, bringing down power lines, ripping up
trees and sending seawater surging inland.
Almost half a million people have been evacuated from
the path of Cyclone Phailin in Orissa state and
neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.
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.
In 1999 a cyclone killed more than 10,000 people in
Orissa, although authorities say they are better
prepared this time.
At daybreak on Sunday there was an anxious wait to see
the extent of the damage.
Communications are down in many areas with road
and rail links closed, making an assessment even more
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.
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This fallen tree blocked a road in Berhampur overnight
In the Orissa state capital of Bhubaneshwar,
government workers and volunteers were assembling
hundreds of thousands of food packages for relief
camps.
Bhubaneswar shop owner Susil Kumar Singh was one of
only a few traders keeping his store open.
"Everyone's in trouble so I've kept my shop open to
help them," he told AFP news agency.
"Right now, there's no drinking water and trees are
falling down all around."
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.
"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 (10in) 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, 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.
On Saturday, 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.
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.

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