Animated image of Cyclone Hudhud moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Animated image of Cyclone Hudhud moving towards the Andhra Pradesh coast. Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

The cyclone will first make landfall near Visakhapatnam at Sunday forenoon and then in Gopalpur. Lakhs of people are being evacuated from towns and villages through which the cyclone will pass amid massive rain and wind. The cyclone is similar to last year's Phailin that crossed the Odisha coast leaving behind a trail of destruction.

Here are the latest updates on the developing story:

11.45 pm: Over 70 trains cancelled in view of cyclone



East Coast Railway and South Central Railway have cancelled over 70 trains while short terminating or diverting many others in view of cyclonic storm Hudhud, which is set to cross Andhra Pradesh coast on Sunday.

East Coast Railway announced cancellation of 13 express and four passenger trains scheduled to run on Sunday and Monday. (IANS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a emergency high-level meeting to review the preparedness for Cyclone HudHud, in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: PTI Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a emergency high-level meeting to review the preparedness for Cyclone HudHud, in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: PTI



In an emergency high-level meeting to review preparedness for cyclone Hudhud, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked officials to ensure that rescue and relief operations proceed smoothly and people are informed about the cyclone on a real-time basis.

Modi also asked Home Minister Rajnath Singh to be in touch with the Chief Ministers of the states likely to be affected by it, an official statement said.

The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary, the Defence Secretary and other senior officials from the Indian Meteorological Departmentand and the PMO.

Modi was briefed on evacuation and other precautionary and preparatory measures being undertaken for coping with the cyclone. (PTI)



Fisherwomen watch the sea waves before evacuating the place near Podampeta village, on the outskirts of Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. Photo: AP Fisherwomen watch the sea waves before evacuating the place near Podampeta village, on the outskirts of Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. Photo: AP



Over two lakh people living in and around the vulnerable coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have been evacuated with Cyclone 'Hudhud' set to hit the two states on Sunday with winds gusting up to 195 kmph.

The Andhra government has made arrangements to evacuate 5,14,725 people in all, officials said, while the Army and the Navy have kept their personnel on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.

In Odisha, the state government on Saturday began evacuating people from vulnerable areas to minimise casualties. (PTI)



6.45 pm: West Bengal CM reviews preparedness for Cyclone Hudhud



A 24-hour control room has been opened at the state secretariat as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today reviewed the preparedness in view of Cyclone Hudhud that will hit Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coastal areas on Sunday. (PTI)



Cyclone #Hudhud's estimated current strength is 105kt/120mph/195kph, per JTWC, up significantly from 24h ago. pic.twitter.com/YTMQEnDIBP &; Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) October 11, 2014

Fishermen move a boat away from the coast following a cyclone warning near Podampeta village, on the outskirts of Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. Photo: AP Fishermen move a boat away from the coast following a cyclone warning near Podampeta village, on the outskirts of Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Bhubaneswar on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. Photo: AP

The National Crisis Management Committee on Saturday took stock of the preparedness of various state and central government agencies in view of Cyclone 'Hudhud.' The meeting was chaired by Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and it took stock of the relief and rescue measures put in place in both the states after discussing the subject with the Chief Secretaries of the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. (PTI)

Good evening, India...(morning here) Over the last 12 hours, Cyclone #Hudhud has rapidly intensified. Satellite loop: http://t.co/sGyQn1Iw3x &; Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) October 11, 2014

The maximum sustained surface wind speed of Hudhud cyclone will be ranging between 170-180 kmph gusting to 180 kmph on landfall, the Indian Meteorological Department has said.



Children sit on fishing boats by the shore before being evacuated in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. At least 100,000 people were evacuated on eastern seaboard on Saturday as cyclone Hudhud bore down, threatening to devastate farmland and fishing villages when it hits the coast on Sunday. Reuters/R Narendra Children sit on fishing boats by the shore before being evacuated in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. At least 100,000 people were evacuated on eastern seaboard on Saturday as cyclone Hudhud bore down, threatening to devastate farmland and fishing villages when it hits the coast on Sunday. Reuters/R Narendra Visakhapatnam at forenoon tomorrow



The Indian Meteorological Department in its 2.30 pm bulletin said the cyclone was around 260 km southeast of

Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and around 360 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha. The system will cross the Andhra Pradesh coast by forenoon of Sunday, October 12.

3.23 pm: Waves could rise up to 30 feet, says Joint Typhoon Warning Center

Joint Typhoon Warning Center has issued this warning for Hudhud:

Tropical Cyclone Hudhud (TC 03B), located approximately 150 nm southeast of Visakhapatnam has tracked westward at 06 knots over the past six hours.

Animated enhanced infrared satellite imagery depicts a consolidating system with a 9-nm eye, therefore, there is good confidence in the initial position. A 110437z metop-b89ghz image indicates a banding feature over the southern semi-circle.

TC 03B is tracking along the southwestern periphery of the subtropical ridge (STR) and is forecast to make landfall near TAU 24, then begin re-curving poleward along the western periphery of the STR, which is forecast to re-orient as a deep midlatitude trough deepens over northern india.

TC 03B is forecast to continue intensifying prior to landfall, and should peak near 115 knots.

Thereafter, the system will weaken rapidly over land and dissipate by TAU 72. Maximum significant wave height at 110600z is 30 feet.

Fishermen walk along the shore before being evacuated in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh on October 11. Reuters Fishermen walk along the shore before being evacuated in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh on October 11. Reuters 03:29 PM: 396 villages in Andhra face cyclone fury

-396 cyclone prone villages in 5 districts of Andhra Pradesh are to be evacuated.

-3.91 lakh people to be evacuated (of these 1.85 lakh are in Srikakulam alone, the highest).

-These people will be shifted to 370 relief camps (110 of them in Srikakulam, the highest).

-54 boats have been kept ready (30 of them are naval boats).

-15 satellite phones are arranged.

-689 swimmers are positioned across 5 districts.

03:20 PM: National Crisis Management Committee meets to review preparedness

The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) mettoday under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and reviewed the preparedness for relief and rescue operations in the wake of the cyclonic storm.



Boys walk on fishing boats by the shore before being evacuated in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh on October 11. Reuters Boys walk on fishing boats by the shore before being evacuated in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh on October 11. Reuters 02:48 PM: CM Naidu seeks ISRO's help

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has asked ISRO to provide satellite pictures of area

Exact position of landfall will be known today evening or tomorrow morning, says Vizag cyclone warning center.

Cyclone #Hudhud is now the same size as #Phailin (though not yet at the same strength) pic.twitter.com/pz2YQFTfed Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) October 10, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called a meeting to take stock of the preparations for the storm.

Railways cancel 40 trains between Bhubhaneswar-Vishakapatnam

40 more trains diverted for security reasons.

12:14 PM: Cyclone deadlier than expected, says top IMD official

The cyclone will make landfall at an estimated speed of 170-180km/hour, IMD Director General L.S. Rathore told Headlines Today. "Cyclone has developed an eye.It has also come under radar now. It is moving at a speed of 10 kmph towards the Indian coast."

A TV grab of the Gopalpur coast in Odisha ahead of Hudhud on Saturday. A TV grab of the Gopalpur coast in Odisha ahead of Hudhud on Saturday.

12.13 PM: 14-metre high waves expected

The storm is likely to raise 14 meter high waves in the ocean. Another forecast said the cyclone could raise waves of up to 30 feet.



11:48 AM: Heavy rainfall forecast in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.



11:08 AM: NDRF monitoring the building storm



NDRF control room is regularly monitoring the activities about this cyclonic storm and in touch with other agencies to provide immediate help for rescue and relief in case of emergent situation.



10:55 am: Trains cancelled

37 trains going to Odisha have been cancelled, railway authorities said on Saturday.

10:54 am: NDRF readies 39 teams

39 teams of NDRF comprising of more than 1680 rescuers along with 199 inflatable rubber boats and other life saving equipments are deployed in various parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha to meet any challenges arise due to cyclonic storm.