Storm Fani intensifies into very severe cyclonic storm

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.