India launches mass evacuation, as cyclone bears down on east coast

Thousands of people are being evacuated from villages along India’s eastern coastline ahead of a severe Cyclone.

Cyclone Fani is heading towards the state of Orissa with wind speeds in excess of 200 kilometer per hour and is expected to make landfall on Friday.

Officials have now shut down operations at two major ports on the east coast and thousands of rescuers are helping people evacuate from low lying areas.

Cyclone Fani will be the fourth storm to hit country’s east coast in the last three decades.