Cyclone Fani Updateds: IMD Declared “Red Alert” for Odisha

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a Red warning for the 17 districts of Odisha coast, predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall due to Cyclone Fani at places such as Boudh, Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Deogarh and other areas along the coastline.

The cyclonic storm is expected to cross the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali by Friday afternoon.

Red Alert

Red Alert for May 3 (17 Districts) : Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Kandhamal, Anugul, Dhenkanal, jajpur,Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Bhadrak, Balesore, Kendujhar,Maurbhanj.

Yellow Alert

Yellow Alert for May 3(5 District’s): Kalahandi, Sambalpur, Boudha, deogarh, Sundargarh.

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.

Director of regional meteorological centre, HR Biswas, said the impact of cuclone FANI is likely to be much more sever than TITLI, which hat hit Odisha-Andhra coast last year and killed at least 60 people