TNI Bureau: US President Barack Obama declared emergency in New York, Maryland and Massachusetts ahead of Hurricane Sandy, the massive storm, which is heading towards the eastern belt of the country. Over 4700 flights (both domestics and internationals) have been cancelled and 10 lakh people in five states have been evacuated so far.

As the US is bracing for super storm, Obama changed his election campaign plans and headed back to Washington to monitor the situation from the White House today. Several other states in the Northeast including Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and North and South Carolina too declared a state of emergency and closed schools and public transport services.

According to latest reports, schools remained closed on Monday in New York and Washington. Harvard University and Harvard Kennedy School also suspended their operations for today.

The authorities were directed to keep generators ready if the traffic lights are disrupted due to the powerful storm. The precautions were taken after Hurricane Sandy headed north from the Caribbean on Sunday. The storm reportedly left 60 dead and heading towards the eastern US with sheets of rain and high winds.