What is Cyclonic Storm Phailin ?

Cyclone Phailin is the name given to a Tropical Cyclonic Storm  expected to hit India’s east coast October 12.  It  originated as a depression in  Gulf of Thailand and is presently over  Bay of Bengal. The name Phailin, comes from a Thai word which means Sapphire.

It originated as a  tropical depression  along the Gulf of Thailand on October 4.  On October 8, it transformed into a Storm in the Andaman Sea  and subsequently Indian Meteorological Department issued a Warning and designated it as Cyclonic Storm Phailin.

The latest bulletin from IMD says that Phailin is currently over  East central  Bay of Bengal  and would hit Indian  Coastal Regions in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha on the night of October 12.

Also Read: Cyclone Phailin expected to hit Indian East Coast on October 12 

It is expected to cause heavy damage to thatched huts and Breaking of tree branches causing minor damage to power and communication lines. Winds upto speed of 100 kmph is expected to flow due to the storm.

The Odisha government has issued a high alert in 13 districts ( Balasore, Bhadrak, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Jeypore, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Ganjam and Gajapati) and has cancelled the Dusshera holidays of employees of these districts, asking them to ensure safety of people.