The Extremely Severe Cyclone Fani is gradually coming closer to the coast and is all set to make landfall over Odisha coast. It is expected to cross Odisha coast near Satpada and Balukhand area in Puri district around the afternoon of May 3. Cyclone Fani is presently centred about 640 Km south-southwest of Puri, Odisha, and 395 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Thus, Odisha is now gearing up for heavy to extremely heavy rains during the coming days. These showers would be accompanied with damaging winds.
All you need to know about Cyclone Fani
The state and national authorities have already put Odisha on alert against inclement weather conditions, particularly in 12 districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Gopalpur, Khurda, Bhubaneswar, Puri, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Rayagada, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Paradip and Balasore. Also, authorities in Odisha have advised tourists to leave Puri by May 2 evening and cancel non-essential travel to the districts likely to be affected on May 3 and May 4. The evacuation process in Odisha to begin by May 2. 879 multipurpose cyclone shelters ready and can accommodate around one million people.
Here are the top updates on Cyclone Fani:
## In view of the cyclone, officers have been deployed to different areas to supervise the evacuation of people to the cyclone shelter centres, rescue and relief operation. Here is the list:
## Let us have a look at the rainfall expected during and before the landfall:
May 2: Places in South Coastal Odisha like Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Rayagada, Kandhamal and Koraput would start receiving heavy to very heavy rains. Eventually, the spread of rains would increase and cover parts of North Coastal Odisha. Most of the coastal stations such as Puri, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kendrapara, Balasore and Bhadrak would start receiving heavy rains. The wind speed over the Odisha coast is expected to increase to the tune of 100-120 kmph, gusting up to 140 kmph. Sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough all along the coast of Odisha and we advise complete suspension of fishing activities.
May 3: With extremely severe cyclone Fani preparing to make landfall, rains would increase by manifolds. Coastal areas would see heavy to extremely heavy rains, wherein few places might see rains reaching up to 200 mm as well. Damaging winds would be at peak with speed of 175-185 Kmph, gusting up to 205 kmph at the time of crossing the coast. Sea tides would be high between 12 ft to 18 ft above the astronomical tide, leading to flooding. Sea conditions are expected to be rough to very rough all along the coast of Odisha and we advise complete suspension of fishing activities. Interior areas such as Angul, Kandhamal, Kendujhar, Deogarh, Phulbani, Kalahandi, Malkangiri would too receive light to moderate rain with few heavy spells.
May 4: By this time, Fani would have moved further north towards West Bengal and weakened as well. Thus, the weather over Odisha would improve. We expect only light rains at few places but strong south-westerly winds in the order of 60-70 kmph gusting to 80-90 kmph would continue along the coast.
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Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan: We came to meet the Cabinet Secretary and had a discussion on #CycloneFani. Central govt has announced Rs 340 crore as emergency relief fund. pic.twitter.com/U9gZFGLCzS
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2019
## A red alert has been sounded in Srikakulam district of north coastal Andhra Pradesh as heavy rains with winds gusting up to 120 kmph are likely under the influence of the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani.
## A total of six Disaster Response Teams (DRT) of the Indian Coast Guard have been deployed in Bengal-- four in Haldia and two in Frazerganj. 1 lakh people will be evacuated from the lower side of Puri on Thursday.
## A total of 47 flood rescue and relief teams have been prepositioned in 25 vulnerable/coastal areas of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to meet any eventuality arising due to cyclone. In addition, 24 teams are on alert standby at NDRF bases: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
## PM Narendra Modi’s election campaign/ public rally in Jhargram and Tamluk in West Bengal on May 5, has been postponed.
## In view of the cyclonic storm FANI, which is likely to hit Puri district on May 3, the holy Patitapaban Bana attached to the Nilachakra atop Sri Mandir was replaced with a smaller flag today. The decision was made by the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) for safety of Nilachakra (blue wheel made of metals). The Chunara servitors have been asked to tie the smaller flag to the Nilachakra from May 1 till 5, said the SJTA Chief Administrator Pradipta Kumar Mohapatra. The temple administration is taking all sorts of precautionary measures for uninterrupted services of Lord Jagannath during the possible natural disaster.
## FANI, which is now centred 680 km away from Puri and 430 km away from Visakhapatnam coast in Bay of Bengal, is likely to make landfall near Balukhand of Puri district early in the evening on May 3.
## West Bengal is expected to face significant damage in Cyclone Fani, says IMD Kolkata. Thatched houses in the coastal districts will be completely damaged, kacha houses will be extensively damaged, and pucca houses will be partially damaged. The roads, train lines, and crop fields are expected to be damaged too. West Bengal had last suffered serious damages during Cyclone Aila when the windspeed reached close to 110-112 kmph. But Cyclone Fani’s windspeed may reach 120kmph causing widespread damage. Met office has called for the complete suspension of tourist activities along the coast, full suspension of ferry services between May 2-4. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has put all engineers on alert. They need to be available on the phone at all times in case of any eventuality. 18 NDRF teams besides state DMG teams being deployed to combat the impact the cyclone Fani.
## Bhubaneswar's Rama Devi Women's University exams have been cancelled.
## The ships at Visakhapatnam are standing-by with relief material for immediate deployment to most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief ops. Diving and medical teams are kept ready augmenting rescue and relief efforts in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. Naval aircraft are kept ready at Naval Air Stations, INS Dega and INS Rajali to undertake aerial survey of the most affected areas, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material, as required by the State Administration: Eastern Naval Command
## At least 74 trains have been cancelled by the east coast railway in Odisha. The cancellation of train services have been done keeping in mind the safety and security of passengers. The train services between Odisha's Bhadrak and Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram are likely to be stopped from Thursday evening (May 2). The rail passengers are advised by the east coast railway to plan their journey accordingly.
## The inward train services towards Bhubaneswar-Puri will be restricted from late evening of May 2. The East Coast Express and Coromondal Express will not run from Howrah, West bengal, on May 2.
## The trains for Puri from Howrah on May 2 night has been cancelled. The trains towards Bangalore/Chennai/Secunderabad from Howrah has been cancelled on May 2 evening. All trains from Puri and Bhubaneswar on May 3 has been cancelled. All incoming trains touching Puri/Bhubaneswar on May 3 has been cancelled.
## The EVM machine shifting process started in Gajapati district of Odisha. Keeping in view of Fani cyclonic storm, the steps are being taken with the presence of different candidates. The EVM machines are being shifted to Maharaja boys school to a building near collectorate Gajapati. The EVM machines engaged in Paralakhemundi and Mohana constituency are being shifted with tight security.
# Moderate thunderstorm/lightning with light rainfall and gusty wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph is likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Nawarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Balangir on May 1 between 4 pm-8 pm.
## The entrance tests, examinations, valuation and meetings at Puri's Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Vishvavidyalaya have been postponed until further orders. The exams were scheduled to be held from May 2, May 3, May 5 and May 6.
## The examinations at Ravenshaw University has been rescheduled for the cyclone. Here are the new dates:
## The examinations under the Utkal University, Bhubaneswar scheduled to be held from May 2-4 has been postponed due to Cyclone Fani. The re-examination scheduled will be notified after the cyclone is over, according to an order by the university.
## Odisha: The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack twin city Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty took a meeting with all the IIC's. Mohanty instructed all the IIC's to look after the PCR vans and VHF machines. They have also been asked for round the clock assistance for an integrated control room, above all look after vigil eye on loot during the cyclone. A team of 24 personnel of 7th battalion ODRAF is on their way towards Bhadrak.
## Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba: We are prepared for the cyclone. Eastern Naval Command at Visakhapatnam is ready, all necessary measures have been taken. In coordination with the state government of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, we are ready for the cyclone.
## The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Tuesday issued a 'yellow warning' for Odisha coast.
Bhubaneswar: Teams of Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force gear up to face cyclonic storm #Fani. The teams left for Bhadrak at 12 pm today. #Odisha pic.twitter.com/wABSVEI9PI
— ANI (@ANI) May 1, 2019
## Special health control room will be established at every district headquarter and block to tackle the impact of the cyclone: Odisha Health Minister Pratap Jena. All leaves of doctors and health staff in Odisha have been cancelled up to 15 May. Those who are on leave have been asked to report back to respective Headquarters by Wednesday evening.
## Damage Expected and Action suggested for Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha. Extensive damage to all types of kutcha houses, some damage to old badly managed Pucca structures is expected due to the cyclone. Extensive uprooting of communication and power poles, disruption of rail/road link at several places, extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards, blowing down of Palm and coconut trees and large bushy trees are also likely. Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings. The administration has advised total suspension of fishing operations, extensive evacuation from coastal areas, diversion or suspension of rail and road traffic to limit the destruction.
## For West Bengal and Odisha coast: The fishermen have been advised not to venture into along and off West Bengal and Odisha coast from 2 May onwards. They are also advised to return to coast by 1 May afternoon.
