DHAKA: With cyclone Phailin set to hit Odisha and Andhra Pradesh coasts this evening, air and rail traffic have been severely hit.

At least 10 flights of Air India, Indigo and Jet Airways scheduled to arrive or take off from the Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar remained cancelled.

The Railways have cancelled all trains between Howrah and Visakhapatnam as a precautionary measure.

‘As per the precautionary measures 56 trains have been cancelled, 16 diverted and 4-5 trains partially terminated,’ said Railway spokesperson Anil Saxena, reports NDTV.

While it had announced to cancel some passenger trains yesterday, the Railways decided to suspend movement of all trains today in view of the cyclone.

‘This cyclone is likely to hit our three railway zones. We have activated our emergency control. Our general managers and railway board are continuously monitoring the situation,’ said Saxena.

BDST: 2051 HRS, OCT 12, 2013
RoR/RIS