These villagers near Puri have moved into a makeshift shelter [Source: BBC]

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 speed up to 200 km/h and is expected to make landfall today.

Officials have shut down operations at two major ports on the east coast, and thousands of officials are helping to evacuate people in low-lying areas.

Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu states are also on high alert.

Officials told BBC about 800,000 people are being evacuated.