Very severe cyclonic storm Titli, which is being referred to as a Category 2 hurricane, made an early morning landfall in Odisha’s Gopalpur before crossing the Andhra Pradesh coast on Thursday, a Home Ministry statement said.

It also said that “the wind speed is likely to decrease gradually due to the weakening of the cyclone”.

“The very severe cyclonic storm Titli crossed north Andhra Pradesh south Odisha coast near Palasa in Srikakulam district to the southwest of Gopalpur, as a very severe cyclonic storm with estimated maximum sustained surface wind speed of 140-150 kmph gusting to 165 kmph between 4.30 a.m. to 5.30 a.m.,” the statement said.

The affected districts so far include Odisha’s Ganjam, Khurdha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Gajapati Kendrapara, Bhadrak and Balasore.

Titli caused heavy to very heavy rainfall in Ganjam, Gajapati and Puri.

The damage of thatched and asbestos house, street lights, roads blockage due to falling of trees, was reported in Ganjam.

The Ministry said that among the preparedness measures, 30 district emergency operation centres have been activated to track and respond disaster effectively.

As many as 3 lakh people were evacuated from their homes in Odisha to other parts of the country; 1,112 relief camps have been opened for the evacuees in the shelters; and 105 pregnant women in Ganjam and 18 in Jagatsinghpur have been shifted to hospitals.

“The situation is being closely monitored at different levels,” the Ministry statement added.