Kolkata: As ‘Cyclone Fani’ moved closer, the West Bengal government sounded an alert in coastal East Midnapore and South 24 Parganas districts, asking tourists to leave seaside destinations and directing fishermen not to venture into sea, May 3 and 4.
Schools have been asked to stay closed and locals asked to move to safer places as the state braces for the extremely severe cyclonic storm which is expected to make its landfall Friday in neighbouring Odisha.
A senior official said alert was also sounded in neighbouring West Midnapore, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogly districts, in Jhargram and the Sundarbans, besides Kolkata.
The government has started making announcements in seaside destinations of Digha, Shankarpur, Tajpur and Mandarmani in East Midnapore and Bakkhali in South 24 Parganas, asking tourists to leave immediately and locals to take shelter in secure areas, the official informed.
“Each and every district has been alerted to keep a close watch on the situation. A control room has been opened 24X7 in this connection,” Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters. Banerjee said she will be staying at Kharagpur in West Midnapore district for the next two days to supervise the situation.
Meanwhile Chief Secretary Malay Kumar De held an emergency meeting with senior officials of disaster management department, security officials in the coastal areas of the state and representatives of the Army, Navy and state police.
“Cyclone Fani’s wind speed is expected to reach 120 kmph and may cause widespread damage. People living in mud houses have been evacuated. Hotels on beaches have been asked to cancel bookings and tourists are being asked to return,” a senior official of the disaster management department said.
“Around 10,000 tarpaulin sheets have been distributed among the inhabitants and announcements has been started in all the villages of districts likely to be affected for the awareness of the people,” the state Disaster Management Minister Javed Khan informed.
People have been advised to keep necessary medicine and drinking water ready. They have also been asked to keep necessary documents in waterproof cases and stay in the temporary shelters arranged by the government, the official said.
“We have readied all form of relief materials, water pouches, medicines. Adequate allotment of relief materials has been made to all districts. Six National Disaster Response Force teams have been deployed at Digha in East Midnapore, Kakdwip and Dhamakhali in South 24 Parganas, Basirhat in North 24 Parganas, Kharagpur in West Midnapore and Sankrail in Howrah,” an official informed.
South Eastern Railway has cancelled six pair of trains to and from Puri to the city and provided three special trains to bring back stranded passengers from the pilgrim town, a SER official said. Buses are being arranged in coordination with West Bengal government at terminals for the convenience of those passengers returning from Puri, he added.
Director General of Civial Avaiation said no flight will depart or arrive at the Kolkata airport between 9.30pm of May 3 and 6.00pm of May 4.