Sandy, downgraded from hurricane to superstorm, made landfall at 8 pm (5:42 am IST) along the southern coast of New Jersey, battering the US East Coast on Monday with fierce winds and driving rain. 16 people are reported dead in storm-related incidents, most of New York is in darkness, transportation has shut down, businesses are shuttered and thousands have been sent scrambling for higher ground. President Barack Obama declared that a "major disaster" exists in New York state following Superstorm Sandy, freeing up federal aid for victims.
Here are the 10 latest developments in the story:
The superstorm has battered New York State. Associated Press has reported the death of at least 16 people.These deaths were reported in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, North Carolina, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Some of the victims were killed by falling trees. Police in Toronto said a woman was killed by a falling sign as high winds closed in on Canada's largest city. (Read more)
New York City hospital is moving out more than 200 patientsafter its backup generator failed when the power was knocked out by thesuperstorm. (Read: Patients being evacuated in New York)
Much of New York City has been plunged into darkness afterthe storm crippled power stations. Sandy knocked out power on Monday to atleast 6.2 million people across the U.S. East, and New York's main utility saidlarge sections of lower Manhattan had been plunged into darkness by the storm. (Watch)
As it hit, the storm hurled a record-breaking 13-foot surge of seawater at New York City on Monday, roaring ashore after washing away part of the Atlantic City boardwalk. Water pressed into the island from three sides and New York's subways and car tunnels are flooded. Mass transit systems have been halted in New York, Boston and Washington, as well as Connecticut's highways. (Read: Storm surge floods tunnels in Manhattan)
Major US airports are closed; almost 12000 flights have been grounded. Tens of thousands of stranded fliers are waiting out the storm.
The federal bureaucracy in Washington is shuttered. In New York, the United Nations offices are closed. The New York Stock Exchange will be closed for a second day. Monday's was the first unscheduled closure since 9/11 and the first weather-related closure in 27 years. Wall Street is expected to remain closed on Tuesday.
The storm damage is projected at $10 billion to $20 billion, meaning it could prove to be one of the costliest natural disasters in US history, AFP reports.
President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney have suspended their campaigning for the November 6 Presidential elections. President Obama cancelled a campaign event in Florida on Monday in order to return to Washington and monitor the US government's response to the storm. (Read: Sandy could buoy or bite either US candidate)
America's oldest nuclear power plant - Oyster Creek in Lacey Township, New Jersey, is on alert after waters from the colossal storm reached high levels. It was already offline for regular maintenance before Sandy hit. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says an "unusual event" was declared around 7 p.m. local time, when water reached a high level. The situation was upgraded less than two hours later to an "alert," the second-lowest in a four-tiered warning system. Officials said all nuclear plants are still in safe condition. (Read: Oldest N-plant on alert)
A police car was lost rescuing 14 people from the popular resort Fire Island. A construction crane atop a luxury high-rise in midtown Manhattan collapsed in high winds and dangled precariously. Residents in surrounding buildings were ordered to move to lower floors and the streets below were cleared, but there were no immediate reports of injuries. The facade of a four-story Manhattan building in the Chelsea neighborhood crumbled and collapsed suddenly, leaving the lights, couches, cabinets and desks inside visible from the street. Cars were seen floating.
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