Kuwait embassy in India closely monitoring developments of Phailin cyclone

Kuwait Ambassador to India Sami Al-Sulaiman said Sunday the embassy in New Delhi was following closely developments of cyclone Phailin and repercussions that hit the coastal areas last night. Cyclone Phailin hit coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh eastern and southeastern states of India. In a statement received by KUNA, Al-Sulaiman said that Indian media have reported the death of five people in a residential building which collapsed due to heavy rains that preceded the arrival of the hurricane. The embassy, he added, did not receive reports of Kuwaiti citizens in such areas. Al-Sulaiman added that Kuwaiti citizens usually located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Madras, Goa, and Kerala cities, which are away from the affected areas. He said the embassy has contacted Indian disaster management officials, who told the embasy that the early warning system held evacuate people before arrival of cyclone. Last night, powerful cyclone Phailin targeted the coastal areas of India's eastern states which resulted in killing five people dead and a trail of wide-spread destruction. High speed winds blowing at a speed of 200 km/h at the start of the cyclone uprooted trees. Indian sources revealed the storm-triggered rains led to flooding in the many coastal areas, besides disrupting road and rail links, adding, that weather forecasters have predicted 25cm of rain in parts of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh for Sunday and Monday as well.