'Extremely severe' cyclonic storm Fani likely to hit Odisha coast by Friday

Severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' is likely to hit Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri on May 3 i.e. on Friday with a wind speed of 175-185 kmph gusting up to 205 kmph. 

"Gale wind speed reaching 145-155 kmph gusting to 170 kmph is prevailing over Southwest Bay & adjoining Southeast of Bengal. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph over Westcentral & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coast from 1st May morning onwards," Centre said in a release. 

#BREAKING | Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani likely to hit Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri on May 3 with wind speed of 175-185 kmph gusting upto 205 kmph: @ndmaindia

(ANI)

— News Nation (@NewsNationTV) April 30, 2019

According to a forecast issued by the US Navy, the cyclonic system is likely to cross Odisha through the coast, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said, adding, the exact location of the landfall will be clear on Wednesday after the cyclone recurves.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, meanwhile, has released funds from State Disaster Response Funds (SDRF) in advance to four states -- Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Of the total financial assistance of Rs 1,086 crore, Odisha will get Rs 340.87 crore.

The impact of 'Fani' is likely to be much more severe than 'Titli', which had hit the Odisha-Andhra coast last year, said H R Biswas, director of the regional meteorological centre.

At least 60 people had been killed when cyclone 'Titli' struck Odisha in October 2018.

Biswas said 'Fani' is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during the next 36 hours, and expected to move northwestwards till May 1 evening, and, thereafter, recurve north-northeastwards towards Odisha coast.

Sethi said 20 units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF), 12 units of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and 335 units of fire services have been kept in a state of preparedness.

Instruction has been issued to undertake prompt evacuation of people from all vulnerable areas and shift them to the cyclone centres from May 2, he said, adding, all the 880 such centres have been readied for the purpose.

Boats are also kept in readiness for rescue operations if required.

The Indian Air Force, the Navy and Coast Guards have been alerted and their services will be utilised if necessary, Sethi said.

With PTI Inputs