The Weather office said that emergency measures were advised to be taken in Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24 Paraganas and East Midnapore districts as also Kolkata.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee held an emergency meeting with high-level officials and reviewed the situation.

Regional Meteorological Centre director G C Debnath said the cyclonic storm SIDR was gathering strength each hour and already crossed a windspeed of 100 km in record time.

It was likely to make landfall in coastal areas possibly before midnight, he said.

The Chief Minister said the cyclone SIDR has taken the form of a super cyclone with a windspeed of 200 km.

The RMC director said the port authorities were asked to hoist great danger signal no.10, while the state government has been advised to take immediate contingency measures in coastal areas.

"We advised the state government to take contingency measures as early as possible considering the grave situation," Debnath said.

He said fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea which was likely to rise by 6 to 7 metres.

The cyclone, if it hits the land, was likely to have a disastrous effect disrupting communication and causing widespread damage, he said.

Asked what if it changed direction at the last moment, he said the cyclone might hit the Bangladesh coast if it took an easterly direction, but not without sparing "our coastal areas too".

Kolkata Mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharjee asked those living in dilapidated houses to shift to safer places.

He said the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has prepared a contingency plan for rescue and relief operation and water supply in view of the cyclone.

MHA sends cyclone alert advisories to West Bengal, Orissa

The Union Home Ministry has issued alert advisories to West Bengal and Orissa in view of a very strong cyclone moving rapidly towards the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast.

With possibilities of six-metre high tides, the MHA asked the authorities to evacuate people from the low-lying areas and advised fishermen not to venture out into the seas, a senior official said.

The alert has been especially marked for two coastal districts in West Bengal -- Midnapore and South 24-Parganas, and for four coastal districts in Orissa -- Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur, he said.

The storm was currently lying 500 kms off Kolkata and racing fast towards West Bengal and gathering momentum.

The state administration has been alerted about the possibility of severe damage to buildings in the coastal areas.

Cyclonic storm SIDR may trigger huge tidal waves in Orissa

With a very severe cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal likely to trigger surge of tidal waves up to six metres high and a gale in coastal Orissa, the state government began evacuation of people from sea-side villages in six districts.

Though the cyclonic system, christened Sidr, skipped Orissa and moved towards West Bengal-Bangladesh region, the cyclonic warning centre here warned that under its impact tidal waves upto a height five to six metres above normal tide are likely in coastal areas of Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur districts.

"Tidal surge might be experienced at the time of the storm crossing the coast," CWC Director Sarat Sahu said adding that a gale with wind speed of 90-120 kmph was also likely to occur very soon.

As the system approaches the coast, a gale with wind speed reaching 120-150 kmph was likely along and off north Orissa coast, while a gale with wind speed reaching 90-120 kmph along and off south Orissa is likely by Friday, Sahu said and warned that "sea condition will be very high -- over 14 metres."

The CWC forecast that the system with maximum sustained wind speed of 200 kmph was likely to cross West Bengal- Bangladesh coast east of Sagar island around mid-night on Thursday as it has shown fast movement during the last three hours.

Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) N K Sunaday said the directions were already given for evacuation of people living in sea-side villages in six districts.

"Evacuation has already begun in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam districts," he said.

Met warns of effects of cyclone in N-E

Heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by gusty winds with a speed of around 50-60 kmph might hit various parts of the North-East following formation of a cyclone SIDR over the Bay of Bengal which is fast advancing towards the West Bengal-Bangladesh coast, the Met office said.

Senior meteorologist H N Das of the Regional Metereological Centre in Assam, said strong winds reaching upto the speed of 60 kmph might hit several places of Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam in the next 48 hours.

Many parts of the region have already been witnessing intermittent to heavy rainfall since Thursday morning. - DDNEWS