Eastern India evacuates hundreds of thousands as powerful cyclone sweeps through Bay of Bengal

An Indian man holds an umbrella to protect himself from the heavy rains near Gopalpur, in Ganjam district, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. The India Meteorological Department described Cyclone Hudhud as a "very severe" storm that could pack winds of 195 kilometers (120 miles) per hour and cause torrential rains when it makes landfall near the port city of Visakhapatnam around noon Sunday. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) (The Associated Press)

Indian fishermen move a boat away from the coast following a cyclone warning near Podampeta village, on the outskirts of Gopalpur beach in Ganjam district, 140 kilometers (87 miles) south of Bhubaneswar, India, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014. Indian authorities were evacuating hundreds of thousands of people Saturday as a powerful cyclone “Hudhud” swept through the Bay of Bengal and headed toward the country's east coast. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) (The Associated Press)

An Indian woman shields herself with a plastic bag as she walks on a road in the rain, in Bhubaneswar, India, Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. According to Indian Meteorological Department reports, severe cyclonic storm "Hudhud" is likely to hit Andhra Pradesh and Orissa coasts Sunday. (AP Photo/Biswaranjan Rout) (The Associated Press)

Indian officials are evacuating hundreds of thousands of people as a powerful cyclone sweeps through the Bay of Bengal and heads toward India's east coast.

Officials were stockpiling emergency supplies and rescue workers were on standby along the coastlines of Andhra Pradesh and Orissa states Saturday, with Cyclone Hudhud expected to make landfall near the port city of Visakhapatnam around noon Sunday.

The India Meteorological Department described Hudhud as a "very severe" storm that could pack winds of 195 kilometers (120 miles) per hour and cause torrential rains when it makes landfall.

The cyclone was 330 kilometers (205 miles) southeast of Visakhapatnam on Saturday afternoon.

About 150,000 people have already been evacuated, with around 400,000 more to be relocated by the end of the day.