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Cyclone: PM puts armed forces on alert

A super cyclone with a wind speed of about 260 km an hour lashed the port town of Paradip in Orissa today killing two people and damaging over 2,000 houses in the coastal areas.

The meteorological office in Bhubaneswar reported that the central pressure of the cyclonic storm was estimated at 926 hectapascal. Latest reports said the cyclone was now headed towards the West Bengal coast.

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has put the armed forces on alert. He also spoke to the WB chief minister and assured him all help.

Life was paralysed in coastal Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Paradip and Kendrapara where power and road and rail and telecommunications were disrupted.

The national highway no 5 was blocked at several points as huge trees, electric and telephone poles, uprooted by the storm, lay across the road.

The power supply in Bhubaneswar was also disrupted.

Official sources said thousands of houses along the state's coast had collapsed.

Streets in the state capital wore a deserted look as strong winds accompanied by rain forced the people to remain indoors.

EARLIER REPORT:
Troops stand by for super gale

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