Srikakulam/Hyderabad, Oct 13 (ANI): The much dreaded and expected severe cyclone Phailin struck Srikakulam region in Andhra Pradesh. Disaster Management Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh state, T Radha said this at Hyderabad. Rains and winds lashed India's east coast, forcing nearly five hundred thousand people to flee to storm shelters as one of the country's largest cyclones closed in, threatening to cut a wide swath of devastation through farmland and fishing hamlets. Citing the weather department's warning of extensive damage to mud houses, he said that major disruption of power and communication lines may be caused. Nonetheless, all preventive measures have been initiated.