Cyclone Fani intensifies, to make landfall near Odisha coast tomorrow

Cyclonic storm Fani is expected to intensify into very severe cyclonic storm by April 30 the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The storm will continue to move North West and change its path to North East from May 1. The IMD has also ruled out landfall over Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. The weather body said that it is continuously monitoring possibility of landfall in Odisha.

The IMD for Monday had issued yellow alert in four districts – Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad. It has issued a yellow alert in five districts of Kerala for April 30.  Yellow alert has been declared on Tuesday in Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur, Malappuram and Wayanad districts.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi while expressing concern over the situation arising due to Cyclone Fani said he had spoken to officials to take preventive measure and provide assistance. "Spoke to officials regarding the situation arising due to Cyclone Fani. Asked them to take preventive measures and be prepared to provide all possible assistance. Also urged them to work closely with Governments of the affected states. Praying for everyone's safety and wellbeing," PM Modi tweeted.

Speaking to the reporters on Saturday at the Regional Meteorological Centre, IMD, Chennai, Deputy Director General S Balachandran said that light to moderate rains are possible in the coming days in north Tamil Nadu due to the cyclonic storm. “It has travelled at a speed of 18 kilometres per hour in the last six hours. This will intensify into a cyclonic storm by this evening and into a severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow (Sunday). It will further move in the northwest direction and move near the coast of north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh on April 30,” he said.