According to preliminary official reports received by the state government, seven persons in Ganjam, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Balasore, have been killed and a large number of domestic animals perished. Special Relief Commissioner of Odisha, PK Mohapatra, said the toll might rise as reports from interior parts of the cyclone-hit areas are yet to be received. Unconfirmed reports say, about 20 persons have lost their life in the cyclone.
Mohapatra said, the state government has started rescue and relief operations with assistance from National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). All the blocked national highways passing through the affected areas due to falling of trees have been cleared and state highways will be cleared by this evening. Restoration of electricity, which was disrupted due to uprooting of electric poles, are being taken up on war-footing. Mobile networks are also being restored as a number of towers were badly damaged.The state government has kept 12 IAF choppers in standby mode for dropping of food packets.
Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar Met office has said that Phailin has become weak and will convert into a deep depression and cross Odisha border passing through Sambalpur district by 7 of this evening. Most parts of coastal Odisha and interior Odisha are experiencing heavy rain with wind speed of 55 km per hour. Major rivers like Rushikulya, Budhabalanga and Brahmani are likely to touch danger mark due to the incessant rains. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is taking stock of the post-cyclone situation at Bhubaneswar with senior officials.
In Andhra Pradesh, rescue and relief operations are in full swing in Srikakulam district which bore the brunt of cyclone. The NDRF teams swung into action in restoring road transport which is badly damaged at several places. State Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has asked the district administrations to speed up rescue and relief operations.
Meanwhile, the reservoirs in Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam are getting huge inflow of water from the catchment areas. So far 18 thousand cusecs of water has been released by the irrigation officials from Balimela reservoir.
The Met Department has forecast moderate to heavy rain for the next 24 hours in the north coastal Andhra & Odisha.
