Phailin still 'severe' in Orissa, AP declared safe

Though cyclone Phailin has weakened since it made landfall at Odisha's port town of Gopalpur on Saturday night, it will remain in the 'severe cyclonic storm' category in the state on 2.30pm on Sunday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

Though cyclone Phailin has weakened since it made landfall at Odisha's port town of Gopalpur on Saturday night, it will remain in the 'severe cyclonic storm' category in the state on 2.30pm on Sunday, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).



The storm has passed over Andhra Pradesh, which has been "de-warned", or declared out of danger, said LS Rathore, director general, IMD.

The system is now headed north-northwest, he said. It will weaken further into the 'cyclonic storm' category by Sunday afternoon and then into a deep depression by evening.

The weakened system will traverse Bihar and parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh by Tuesday, before moving to Nepal, whose rivers can trigger flooding in Bihar.

Rathore said the timely evacuations in the state had resulted in "zero loss of lives" due to Phailin, the worst storm to hit India in 14 years.

The threat has now shifted to flooding in states like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Bihar, which have been put on alert.