Cyclone Phailin 150 kms away from Odisha,18 Fishermen Trapped In Sea.....

Very severe cyclone Phailin as big as India itself roared towards the coast, on course for landfall near Gopalpur in Odisha's Ganjam district. (AP)

Odisha and Andhra Pradesh braced for widespread devastation as a cyclone as big as India itself roared towards the coast, on course for landfall near Gopalpur in Odisha's Ganjam district.

3.30pm:Bracing for cyclone Phailin, nearly 2,000 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal.

According to NDMA authorities, 29 teams of NDRF have been deployed along with rescue equipment in Odisha. In Andhra Pradesh, 15 teams have been deployed and four additional teams are also being rushed from Tamil Nadu, while seven teams have been deployed in West Bengal.

3.20pm:In view of Cyclonic storm Phailin Cabinet Secretary directs all agencies to be on full alert to minimize damage, and loss of life and property.

2.20pm:President Pranab Mukherjee cuts short his West Bengal visit in view of Cyclone Phailin.

1.45pm:Cyclone Phailin is now 150 kms away from Gopalpur in Odisha, IMD says.

1.40pm:East Coast Railway have cancelled all trains between Howrah and Vishakhapatnam as a precautionary measure in view of cyclone Phailin.

1.00pm: 18 fishermen were reported to be trapped on a trawler near Paradip in the sea. However, they could not be rescued as the sea was extremely rough.

A woman was killed after a tree fell on her on Saturday morning. The woman was identified as Jayanti Raut (42), who died after a tree fell on her in the morning amid gusty winds.

12.30pmThe 'very severe' cyclonic storm is 200 km off the Gopalpur coast which will be the centre of the cyclonic system, reports said.

The MeT department said that the cyclone, with wind speed of 210-220 kmph, is expected to hit the coast from 6 to 8 pm today and is likely to stay for six hours before moving ahead. Wind speed could reach up to 240 kmph at a later stage.