Officials ordered tens of thousands of coastal villagers to flee their homes Friday as a massive cyclone — so large it filled nearly the entire Bay of Bengal — gathered strength and headed toward India's eastern seaboard.<br /><br />Officials cancelled holy day celebrations and stockpiled emergencies supplies in coastal Orissa and Andhra Pradesh states, with forecasters saying Cyclone Phailin will hit the region Saturday evening.<br /><br />The Indian Meteorological Department warned that Phailin was a "very severe cyclonic storm" that was expected to hit with maximum sustained winds of 210-220 kph (130-135 mph). If the storm continues on its current path without weakening, it is expected to cause large-scale power and communications outages, and shut down road and rail links, officials say. There would also be extensive damage to crops.<br /><br /><br />For More information on this news visit : http://www.newsx.com/<br />Connect with us on Social platform at : http://www.facebook.com/newsxonline<br />Subscribe to our YouTube Channel : http://www.youtube.com/newsxlive
