‘Fani’ heading towards state

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Bhubaneswar: Cyclonic storm ‘Fani’, which was formed over southeast Bay of Bengal & its neighbourhood, is moving towards Odisha at a speed of 11 kmph, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said here Monday.
Speaking to Orissa POST, IMD Additional Director General (ADG) Mrutyunjay Mohapatra said, “Fani is moving towards Odisha coast. The cyclone will convert into extreme severe cyclonic storm and its intensity will be more than that of Titli that had hit Odisha in October last year.”
The exact point of landfall can be predicted Tuesday, he said, adding, “We have warned the state government so that they can take all precautionary steps.”
According to IMD, the system is located about 620 km east-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 840 km east-southeast of Chennai and 990 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam. It is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next six hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours.
The cyclone is very likely to move northwestwards till May 1 and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards towards Odisha coast, the Met office said. Under its impact, light to moderate rainfall will happen at a few places in north coastal Andhra & south coastal Odisha May 2. This is likely to increase in intensity with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal Odisha from May 3.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi held two separate meetings Monday to review the preparedness to deal with the cyclone. Naveen stressed zero causality and asked officials to ensure it.
All 880 cyclone centres besides 20 units of ODRAF (Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force), 12 units of NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and 335 fire units have been put on alert.
“Though ‘Fani’ is unlikely to make a landfall in Odisha, it will pass through the state’s coast during its movement. Under its influence, the state may experience heavy rainfall and wind speed that would reach up to 60 kmph,” Padhi told reporters after a high-level meeting here.
“Today we have initiated whatever precautionary steps can be taken. Fishermen have been warned not to venture into sea. A fishing ban is already in force due to the breeding season. We have ordered to re-enact the ban at the field level. Whatever preparedness is required, we have taken,” the Chief Secretary said.