Cyclone Titli LIVE updates: 'Very severe cyclonic storm' makes landfall near Odisha's Gopalpur; 3 lakh people evacuated

Cyclone Titli made a landfall on Thursday morning near Odisha's Gopalpur district. The winds are reportedly moving at a speed of 126 kmph, resulting in many trees being uprooted in Berhampur that is very close to the point of the landfall. 

Many trains, especially the ones travelling along the coasts of in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh were cancelled as a precautionary measure on Wednesday. 

The Indian Meteorological Department has upgraded the cyclone as 'very severe'. 

The coastal area of Andhra Pradesh has been completely cut off from the mainland due to cut in the power lines. 

Eight people have died as of Thursday afternoon in Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram districts due to Cyclone Titli, reports news agency ANI. 

State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said that Titli which caused havoc in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam, has left to people dead, according to Deccan Chronicle. 

Cyclone Titli in Srikakulam after it made a landfall

The IMD said that the cyclone is expected to gradually weaken and form a deep depression by Friday morning over the Bay of Bengal. 

"It is very likely to move north-westwards for the next 12 hours and then recurve northeastwards towards the Gangetic West Bengal across Odisha," the IMD told ANI. 

The Met Department has said that the cyclone Titli will completely cross Odisha in one or two hours. It would make its way to the north-east part of the country via Kolkata. 

"Government and authorities are on alert. It is the need of the hour for everyone to come forward. I am confident that this crisis will be handled in a proper way with everyone's support," Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told ANI

The boat capsized off the Odisha coast while Titli was making the landfall. One of the rescue teams which were deployed to that region managed to make it to the site of the accident on time and rescue all the fishermen. 

14 NDRF teams have been deployed in Odisha, according to Republic. Along with this, the Navy and the Army and 300 motor boats are on standby. 

836  relief shelters have been set up across the state to house those evacuated due to the cyclone. 

Around 10,000 residents of Gopalpur, which is close to the point of landfall were evacuated before Thursday morning. They were moved to government shelters where food and relief were provided. 

Cyclone Titli made its landfall at the Odisha coast at 6 am on Thursday morning.