Storm Fani into severe cyclonic storm

 HR Biswas, director of Meteorological Department, Bhubaneswar, told news agency ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked his officials and the National Crisis Management Committee to stay in touch with the states at risk from Cyclone Fani.

Eastern Naval Command: 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. 
# Fani now “extremely severe cyclonic storm”, says the Navy

The  Met  Department has said that the severe Cyclonic storm Fani in the Bay of Bengal intensified into a very severe cyclonic storm in the last six hours.

It is likely to cross Odisha coast around Friday afternoon. 

The Bhubaneswar Met centre said under the impact of the cyclonic storm, heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to occur in the districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Khordha, Rayagada and Kandhamal districts tomorrow. 

It also said heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is likely to occur in the coastal areas and some isolated places including southern districts Sambalpur, Deoghar, and Kalahandi on Friday. 

Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Padhi who reviewed the cyclone preparedness in a high-level meeting at Bhubaneswar yesterday said as many as 879 cyclone shelters have been kept ready for sheltering the evacuated people; adding that 28 NDRF, 20 ODRAF teams, and fire services are positioned for the emergency situation. 

Besides, the Odisha government has sought two helicopters and additional NDRF teams from Centre for the evacuation of affected people to safety. 

According to the Cyclone Warning Center, Visakhapatnam, the wind speed will increase tomorrow and day after tomorrow in Srikakulam, Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam Districts of Andhra Pradesh. 

The sea condition is very likely to be very rough to high along and off North Coastal Andhra Pradesh from today till Friday. Fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea.

Met department has issued a “yellow warning” for the Odisha coast predicting heavy to very heavy rain in several areas. “The cyclone will move along the coast of Odisha and go to West Bengal. We have suggested suspension and diversion of railway traffic and advised people to remain indoor,” Mr Biswas told news agency ANI.Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations. Units of the Air Force in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal have been put on standby.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is deploying 41 teams at areas considered to be vulnerable – Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (28) and West Bengal (5). The NDRF has also kept on standby 13 teams in West Bengal and 10 in Andhra Pradesh.

A storm surge of about 1.5 metres height above the astronomical tide is likely to inundate low-lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts in Odisha at the time of landfall, news agency ANI reported.

Fishermen have been asked not to venture out far in areas southwest and southeast of Bay of Bengal. “Fishermen who are still venturing into the sea have been advised to return to the coast. Due to this cyclone, Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh may experience hot heavy winds,” Nagaratna, scientist at Meteorology Department, Hyderabad, told ANI.West Bengal may see light to moderate rain at most places on May 3.

Cyclone Fani is likely to bring light to moderate rain at many places over north coastal Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram districts) on May 2.

The centre on Tuesday ordered release of Rs. 1,086 crore to four states as advance financial assistance for undertaking preventive and relief measures to deal with Cyclone Fani.

Of the sanctioned amount, Odisha will receive Rs. 340.87 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs. 309.37 crore, West Bengal Rs. 235.50 crore and Andhra Pradesh Rs. 200.25 crore.