Bhubaneswar: With Odisha on course of very severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ which is likely to hit the State on May 3, the government has initiated preparations on a war footing in view of the possible cyclone.

Here are the live updates:

As per latest forecast by Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) at 8.00 PM, Cyclone Fani would cross near Udayagiri of Krushnaprasad block of Puri district of Odisha on May 3 afternoon at a wind speed of about 185 kmph; to pass through Khurda, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj districts, informed Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) sources.

Earlier, Odisha Chief Secretary AP Padhi after a high level review meeting said, “Cyclone Fani is not a super cyclone, but an an extremely severe cyclonic storm. The cyclonic storm will have maximum impact in Odisha.

As per latest updates, Indian Coast Guard and Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief & rescue operations. Army & Air Force units in Andhra, Odisha & WB have been put on standby. NDRF is also deploying 41 teams for prepositioning.

The National Crisis Mgmt Committee (NCMC), today, met with States and concerned departments of Government of India and reviewed the preparedness to deal with the situation arising out of the Cyclonic Storm Fani. NCMC will meet again tomorrow to take stock of the emerging situation.

#CycloneFani is not a super cyclone, but an extremely severe cyclonic storm: Odisha Chief secretary briefs media regarding preparations pic.twitter.com/hF7VGimvBO — OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019



Indian Meteorological Department ADG Mrityunjay Mohapatra informed that cyclone Fani is continuously intensifying and its present speed (April 30 noon) is around 125 to 135 kmph. It is likely to touch Odisha coast near Puri later in the day on May 3 with a speed of 170 to 180 kmph. The system is moving North-Northwestwards and located around 830 km off Puri.

As per the latest IMD bulletin, During cyclone Fani landfall, the storm surge of about 1.5 meter height above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur’; Orange warning issued for 6 districts for May 2, Red alert for 17 districts for May 3-4.”

Current speed of #CycloneFani is around 125 to 135 kmph; it is likely to touch #Odisha coast with a speed of 170 to 180 kmph near Puri in the afternoon of May 3: IMD ADG Mrityunjay Mohapatra pic.twitter.com/Boe8o6NZ3M — OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019

Read more: Extremely Severe ‘Fani’ Will Strike Between Puri – Paradip In Dead Of Night On May 3

The Eastern Naval Command officials informed that Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam & Chennai are standing-by to proceed to most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief, evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid.

“As the cyclone storm Fani intensifies into a severe cyclonic storm over South-East & adjoining South-West Bay of Bengal, the Command has assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Monitoring the developments in the Bay of Bengal closely and is in constant touch with state administrations to augment rescue and relief operations as needed,” senior officials of Eastern Naval Command said.

#CycloneFani: All the fire stations in Odisha are on alert & we have mobilised manpower from northern & western parts to the coastal districts. Odisha Fire Services Dept is fully prepared to deal with the situation, informs #Odisha DG Fire, HG & CD, BK Sharma (File Pic) pic.twitter.com/YTZJ1ueYUu — OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019

#CycloneFani: Chief Fire Officer, Sukant Sethi briefs on the preparedness of Odisha Fire Services Department pic.twitter.com/FbSQbvyKgV — OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019



Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered advance release of financial assistance of Rs. 340.875 crore to the State Disaster Relief Fund of Odisha.

#CycloneFani: Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered advance release of financial assistance of Rs. 1086 crore to 4 States (Rs. 200.25 cr for Andhra Pradesh + Rs. 340.875 cr for Odisha + Rs. 309.375 cr for Tamil Nadu + Rs. 235.50 cr for West Bengal), to their SDRF (PIB) — OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019

Traditional ‘bana (flag)’ attached to the ‘Nilachakra’ atop #Puri #Srimandir to be replaced by a shorter one because of #CycloneFani; decision taken by temple administration for Nilachakra’s safety pic.twitter.com/KCQd31pzjC — OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019



Informing about the current position of the cyclone, Director of Bhubaneswar Regional Meteorological Centre, Bishnupada Sethi, has warned that it is likely to turn into an extremely severe cyclonic storm. “Located around 760 km off Machilipatnam it is moving Northwestwards till May 1, thereafter it will recurve north-northeastwards towards Odisha coast,” he said.

After May 2, South and South coastal Odisha and adjacent districts will get heavy to very rainfall. Thereafter, on May 3 and 4, coastal and interior Odisha is also likely to be lashed by extremely heavy rainfall. Wind speeds touching 150 to 170 kmph have also been predicted.

State Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi today informed that the State government is coordinating with the US Navy and other agencies but so far it is yet to ascertain the exact route of the cyclone which is forecast to past through Odisha.

“From the current trend of the cyclone, we suspect that the storm may pass through Odisha coastline between Puri and Balasore, so all concerned district authorities have been directed to remain alert to face any eventuality,” said Sethi.

Latest movement trend of cyclone (FANI) shows that it may pass through #Odisha coastline between Puri & Balasore so district authorities have been asked to stay fully prepared; 20 ORDAF units, 335 fire services units, 12 NDRF units have been kept ready: SRC Bishnupada Sethi pic.twitter.com/dgLcovL8Tn — OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019

The SRC also added that all departments have been asked to cancel holidays of the officials for preparedness in view of the cyclonic storm. 20 ODRAF units, 335 fire services units and 12 NDRF units have been kept ready for immediate operation in areas that are likely to be affected by the cyclone.

Expediting measures in view of cyclone Fani, the National Disaster Management Authority has alerted all NDRF teams at Mundali to remain on standby mode.

Anticipating possible landfall in Bhadrak/Balasore region of #Odisha NDRF team prepositioned at Balasore and further strengthened with manpower and equipment especially tree cutters. Jharkhand RRC alerted to be on hot standby. ALL TEAMS AT MUNDALI ON READY STANDBY. #CycloneFani — NDMA India (@ndmaindia) April 30, 2019

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Parnaik has reviewed preparedness as cyclone Fani changed its course to pass through coast of Odisha.

Reviewed @SRC_Odisha‘s preparedness as cyclone #Fani has turned course to pass through coast of #Odisha. Also discussed with senior officials on the preparedness of the field officials. Administration is fully geared up to handle the situation. — Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) April 30, 2019

Directorate of Health Services has also issued an alert to all the district administrations, medical authorities and public health officers to make all necessary arrangements like preparation of cooked food, medicines emergency ambulance services at block level.

Sources from the IMD said that as many as 14 districts-Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Bhadrak, Balasore, Jajpur, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal, Angul, Keonjhar are likely to be under the impact of the cyclonic storm.