Cyclone Fani, which has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, will be hitting the Odisha coast on Friday with a wind speed around 200 kmph. The Odisha government has declared holiday at schools and colleges in the state on Tuesday in anticipation of the oncoming cyclonic storm.
As Odisha faces simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections, caretaker chief minister Naveen Patnaik has requested the Chief Election Commissioner to revoke the Model Code of Conduct and postpone elections in the Patkura assembly seat in Kendrapara, which is scheduled for May 19.
The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday evening issued a yellow warning for the Odisha coast, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall at places such as Boudh, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Deogarh and other areas along the coastline.
A video showing today's @CopernicusEU #Sentinel3 overpass of Tropical Cyclone #Fani, which is due to impact India's East Coast in the next few days.
Simon Proud (@simon_sat) April 30, 2019
Video starts over the Himalayas, then passes down over the Indian Ocean. pic.twitter.com/TC8ZMPmoUY
The IMD has issued a formal cyclone alert for Odisha, West Bengal and parts of Andhra Pradesh, and suggested evacuation of costal areas.
The cyclonic storm is expected to cross the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali by Friday afternoon.
Navy and Coast Guard ships and helicopters, relief teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed at various locations in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. Army and Air Force units have also been put on standby as severe cyclonic storm Fani moves northwestwards.
According to ANI, IMD has said that wind speed is likely to reach 175-185 kmph and can further gust up to 205 kmph.
Fishermen have also been advised to not venture into the sea.
The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met in Delhi on Tuesday to take stock of the preparedness in various states that are likely to face the brunt of the severe cyclonic storm.
Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid, the Navy said in a statement.
The NDRF is deploying 41 teams in Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (28) and West Bengal (5) for prepositioning.
In addition, the NDRF is keeping on standby 13 teams in West Bengal and 10 in Andhra Pradesh, the official said. A team NDRF comprises about 45 personnel.
The NCMC will meet again Wednesday to take stock of the emerging situation.
(With inputs from Ashish Pandey and PTI)