As Cyclone Phailin approaches, massive evacuation on

Cyclonic storm Phailin, the strongest to hit India in more than a decade and classified as 'very severe' so far, is closing in towards coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh at wind speeds averaging 200-210 km per hour and is expected to hit the two states any time now. The storm, likely to affect around 1.2 crore people, has triggered mass exodus in at least seven districts of the two states. Seen here: Men try to get a motorbike through trees knocked down by heavy rain in Berhampur, about 180 kilometres south of Bhubaneswar.

People remove a tree which fell on a house in Bhubaneswar after Cyclone Phailin hit Odisha.

Water level of river Ganga rises under Howrah Bridge as Cyclone Phailin approaches the coastal area of Odisha.

Strong winds and heavy rains pounded the eastern coastline on Saturday, as authorities rushed to move tens of thousands of people away from the cyclone. Seen here: Waves crash onto the shore at a fishing harbour in Visakhapatnam district in Andhra Pradesh.

In Vishakhapatnam, life is normal so far. Sky is overcast, but there is no rain. However, authorities are on standby and rescue and relief materials are ready. The Odisha government has said it was setting a "zero casualty target" and was seeking "100 percent" evacuation of people in areas likely to be hit by the storm. (Photo courtesy: Maya Sharma)

In Andhra Pradesh, 64,000 people have been evacuated so far. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has called a meeting to monitor relief operations at 12 noon today.

A girl runs for shelter in heavy rain brought by Cyclone Phailin in Ichapuram town in Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh.

Youths stand on the shore as high tidal waves hit the coastline in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.

Golabandha: Policemen evacuate fishermen community villagers in Odisha ahead of Cyclone Phailin.

A villager braving strong winds and rain walks to a safer place, in village Podampeta, in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers from Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

A woman secures a boat before evacuating from Donkuru village in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh.

Villagers take refuge in a cyclone shelter at Gokhorkuda village in Ganjam district about 200 kilometers from Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Two men watch the high tide at Gopalpur beach, about 190 kilometers south from Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Indian Air Force assets in Nashik, Ranchi, Bangalore, Nagpur and Barrackpore are on standby; more than 20 planes and choppers have been deployed. A 30-member divers' team of the Indian Navy is ready; its ships will be deployed after the cyclone landfall. Five Army columns have been sent to Bhubaneswar from Ranchi.

Experts say the wind speed is gusting at 210 to 220 km per hour and is expected to touch 240 km per hour when the cyclone hits the coasts of Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh.

Odisha, which faced the destruction and devastation of a super-cyclone in 1999, says it is not ready to take any chances this time. The state government has so far evacuated nearly three lakh people from its coastal districts.

The Indian Meteorological Department or IMD has said Phailin will remain a "very severe" cyclone, but it is not right to call it a super-cyclone yet. Some weathermen are describing it as potentially India's version of hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest storms in the US history.

People hold umbrellas as they head to a cyclone shelter in Chatrapur in Ganjam district, about 200 kilometers from Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

Seen here, a beach in Visakhapatnam. The Odisha government has said it was setting a "zero casualty target" and was seeking "100 percent" evacuation of people in areas likely to be hit by the storm.

(Photo courtesy: Maya Sharma)

Few people can still be seen at a beach in Visakhapatnam. The Indian Meteorological Department or IMD has said Phailin will remain a "very severe" cyclone, but it is not right to call it a super-cyclone yet.

Photo courtesy: Maya Sharma

Some weathermen are describing it as potentially India's version of hurricane Katrina, one of the deadliest storms in the US history.

This image was shared by Subash from Bhubaneswar.

The skies were dark - almost black - at midmorning on Saturday in Bhubaneshwar.
This image was shared by Subash from Bhubaneswar.

Around 3 lakh people have been evacuated in Odisha so far.
This image was shared by Subash from Bhubaneswar.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has said that steps have been taken to evacuate people from low-lying areas.
This image was shared by Subash from Bhubaneswar.