Cyclone Fani May 3: As it happened

As Cyclone Fani has started inching towards West Bengal, parts of the state are experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds.

Strong winds and heavy rains lashed Biju Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar. Images of damage at the airport have emerged. Operations at the airport have been temporarily halted because of Cyclone Fani.

Odisha is still reeling because of Cyclone Fani, but the cyclone has begun its journey towards north and northeastern states of the country. The storm will emerge in West Bengal as a severe cyclonic storm.

After making a landfall today, Cyclone Fani unleashed its fury on cities in Odisha. Bhubaneswar is one of many prominent cities in Odisha affected by Cyclone Fani. Hundreds of trees were uprooted as Cyclone Fani tore through the city. Watch the video below.

Private weather forecasting agency Skymet has issued a weather alert for northeastern states of the country.

The agency said that as Cyclone Fani moves towards northeastern states of the country, people in the region should be ready for "requent spells of rain & thunder shower with gale winds reaching 60-80 kmph"

Bubhaneswar is facing the full fury of Cyclone Fani. Winds gusting up to 100 kmph lashed the city of temples this afternoon.

The city has received 13.9 cms of rain in past 6 hours. 

The weather department (IMD) has predicted that Cyclone Fani is likely to weaken in the next 6 hours.

In its latest weather bulletin, the IMD said that Cyclone Fani will continue to move towards north and northeast from where it is now.

Although the cyclone may weaken,it will continue to remain a 'severe cyclonic storm', said the IMD.

Image published by the IMD in its latest weather bulletin.

Safety is paramount while dealing with cyclonic conditions. Instructions below have been published by Government of India in public interest. Please go through them carefully and share as much as possible.

Precautions to take while dealing with cyclonic conditions.

Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said that the ministry is monitoring the situation very closely. He has directed Civil Aviation Secretary to keep a close watch. 

Although Cyclone Fani is weakening. it is leaving a trail of destruction as it moves ahead. Following are some images of damage caused by the Cyclone in Odisha.

The cyclone has caused massive destruction.

Although it is weakening, it is leaving a trail of destruction in its wake

Press Information Bureau Principal Director General Sitanshu Kar has tweeted a video saying that strong winds and very heavy rains have caused "extensive damage" to the structure of AIIMS Hospital in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. All patients are safe.

Indian Coast Guard has released a video of one of its ships braving the turbulent sea to embark on a rescue mission.

Cyclone Fani has made landfall several hours ago. Government machinery and armed forces are leaving no stone unturned in relief and rescue effort. 

If you need help and have access to telephone network call on numbers given below to let government know.

Helpline number issued by Home Ministry.

Cyclone Fani helpline

Indian Coast Guard has sped up its efforts to help states on the eastern coast in rescue and relief operation. Coast Guard jawans were seen loading relief material on a chopper on a naval vessel stationed at the sea.

"So far, we have not received any reports about loss of life in the sea," Indian Coast Guard Inspector General KR Suresh tells ANI.

Visuals of heavy rainfall and strong winds from Balipatna in Khurda after Cyclone Fani made landfall in Odisha's Puri.

Three people have died as Cyclone Fani wreaks havoc in Odisha, officials tell PTI.

A child born in a Bhubaneswar hospital was named after the cyclonic storm Fani, even as strong winds and heavy rains battered Odisha after the cyclone made landfall in the coastal state.

Movement of Cyclone Fani

The Election Commission on Friday relaxed the model code of conduct (MCC) in four districts of Andhra Pradesh to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation works in the wake of the extremely severe cyclonic storm, Fani.

Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh had requested the EC to relax the provisions of MCC in East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts.

"The Commission has considered the matter and approved the proposal of granting relaxation in the provisions of MCC for all the preventive and relief work associated with the cyclone in the above mentioned districts," it said.

Fani, with wind speeds touching nearly 200 kmph, made landfall earlier on Friday on the eastern coast of Odisha, wreaking havoc.

It also triggered heavy rains in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, while gusty winds uprooted trees and electricity poles.

Cyclone Fani is the strongest storm in the country since 2014, says IMD chief 

Cyclone Fani has begun weakening, to enter Bangladesh by Saturday evening, says IMD chief. 

Heavy rains and strong winds will continue to batter Odisha throughout Friday. 

Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has said it has made arrangements to ensure uninterrupted supply of petrol, diesel, LPG and jet fuel in Odisha and West Bengal that faced a category-4 cyclone.

"In the wake of the cyclone Fani making landfall in Odisha earlier today (Friday), IOC is fully geared up and ensuring uninterrupted fuel supply from its locations in Odisha and West Bengal on the east coast," the company said in a statement.

The company said its operations are largely normal across the two eastern states and it continues to supply.

IOC has close to half of the retail fuel market share across the country.

As the severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall in neighbouring Odisha, heavy rainfall lashed Kolkata and Gangetic West Bengal on Friday.

The extremely severe cyclonic storm made landfall alittle after 10 a.m. It was located over 400 km southwest of Kolkata and over 350 km, southwest of the East Midnapore district sea resort Digha.

The Director General of Civil Aviation has issued a revised advisory to all airlines to discontinue flight operations from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport between Friday 3 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m.

Emergency helpline numbers issued in wake of Cyclone Fani

Cyclone Fani: Helpline numbers issued

Odisha: Food being distributed at cyclone shelter set up at Sea Aquarium, in Paradip.

Odisha: Police personnel of Nayapalli police station clear roads in Bhubaneswar.

Several trees have been uprooted following heavy rains and strong winds which hit the region today. 

Airlines must immediately respond to concerns of passengers affected by Cyclone Fani: Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu

As a precaution against cyclone 'Fani', the Indian Railway has cancelled 223 trains in the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section, along the coastal lines of Odisha on the Kolkata-Chennai route till May 4, officials said.

A senior Railway Ministry official told IANS: "140 Mail and Express trains and 83 passenger trains have been cancelled till May 4 afternoon on the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section (along Odisha coastline) of Kolkata-Chennai route."

Indian Navy's P-8I and Dornier are being scheduled to be launched in the afternoon for undertaking aerial survey to assess the extent of impact and devastation post Fani crossing the coast.

Indian Navy's P-8I and Dornier are being scheduled to be launched in the afternoon for undertaking aerial survey to assess the extent of impact and devastation after Cyclone FANI crossed the coast. 

Cyclone Fani is expected to weaken with a wind speed of 150-160 km per hour, subsequently, it will weaken and move north-northeastwards, says Mrityunjay Mohapatra, IMD, Delhi. 

By evening, it may weaken into a severe cyclonic storm over the extreme northern part of Odisha, he says. 

Cyclone Fani has moved away from Andhra Pradesh, so, we have issued a de-warning. 3 districts in the state were impacted by heavy rainfall, Mrityunjay Mohapatra says. 

Several trees uprooted in Odisha's ​Bhubaneswar as strong winds hit the region under the influence of Cyclone Fani. 

 A special train to be run from Visakhapatnam to Mumbai CSTM with the timings and stoppages of Konark Express(11020), confirms East Coast Railways.

No flights will depart or arrive at Kolkata airport from 3 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday in view of the cyclonic storm 'Fani', which slammed into the Odisha coast in the morning, Indian aviation regulator DGCA said.

On Thursday, the regulator said there would be no flights to and from Kolkata airport between 9.30 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday. 

A senior government official told PTI that the timings regarding the shutdown of flight operations at Kolkata airport have been revised after observing the progress of Cyclone Fani. 

On Friday, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said in a statement, "Revised timings provided by AAI for Kolkata airport; From 1500 IST on 3.5.2019 till 0800 IST on 4.5.2019."

West Bengal: NDRF team deployed at Digha has evacuated total 132 people, including 52 children, from Dattapur and Tajpur. They have been taken to a shelter. 

Rainfall begins in coastal districts of West Bengal under influence of Cyclone Fani. 

Rough sea weather conditions in Bhadrak, Odisha under the influence of Cyclone Fani. 

People take refuge in a shelter in Ichchapuram town of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh. Some houses were damaged in the rain and wind experienced by the district today.

IMD says the system influence will be prevalent in Srikakulam for next 12 hours. 

Extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall on the eastern coast wreaking havoc in Odisha on Friday. Despite extensive damage caused by near 200 kmph winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall, no loss of life has been reported so far.

Damaging houses, thousands of trees and electricity poles, uprooting trees, the eye of Fani almost 25 km in diametre is sending off wind velocity of 150 to 175 kmph and even above at some places touching 180 or more, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The eye of the cyclone which was even an hour back party over the Bay of Bengal has completely moved inland. 

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to stay in Kharagpur, near the coastal belt and monitor the situation herself, today and tomorrow.

All her political campaigns for the two days have been cancelled in view of Cyclone Fani. 

Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the state was prepared to combat the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani that is likely to affect six southern districts, while urging people to stay alert and not to panic.

The cyclone made landfall on neighbouring Odisha's eastern coast on Friday morning. Despite extensive damage caused by near 200 kmph winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall, no loss of life has been reported so far.

Commenting on Cyclone Fani, IMD Vizag, SVJ Kumar today said, "Extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani over NW Bay of Bengal and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal is currently about 300 km east-NE of Visakhapatnam and 25 km west-SW of Puri. At the time of crossing, winds at Puri would be around 170-180 gusting to 200 km/hr."

He further said, "Under system's influence, many places over Srikakulam will receive light to moderate rainfall with isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall. Wind speed of 70-80 gusting to 90 km/hr will blow in Srikakulam. System influence will be mostly over Srikakulam for next 12 hrs."

Odisha: Heavy rainfall and strong winds hit Ganjam as Cyclone Fani hits Puri coast with wind speed of above 175km/per hour.

After landfall, Cyclone Fani is very likely to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a severe cyclonic storm and move to Bangladesh after weakening: Indian Meteorological Department.

13 Navy aircraft are at standby in Visakhapatnam to carry out damage assessment and relief distribution requirements in view of cyclone Fani. 

Watch: Rain and strong winds hit Bhubaneswar as cyclone Fani hits Puri coast with wind speed of above 175km/per hour.

Winds in Puri, Odisha are blowing at a maximum speed of 240-245 km per hour and heavy to very heavy rains are continuing over the Odisha coast. After landfall, the impact is likely to reduce and it is likely to move towards West Bengal coast: IMD Hyderabad

Landfall process began at around 8 AM and is expected to complete within 2 hours. Then it's expected to move north-northeastwards, covering all districts in coastal Odisha, towards West Bengal: R Shukla, IMD Paradip, Odisha

Wind speed of 35 km/hr recorded in latest updates at 9 AM and it will increase, Shukla says. 

Three Indian navy's warships -- Sahyadri, Ranvir and Kadmatt -- with relief material and medical teams are tracking extremely severe cyclone Fani and will be the first responder and start rescue work as soon the storm hits the coast in Odisha.

The ship sailed south of the cyclone to be able to start rescue operations even as other naval vessels remain on standby at Vishakhapattanam. Naval divers teams have also moved to Odisha from Vishakhapattanam.
 

Extremely severe cyclone storm cyclone Fani, which hit Odisha coast near Puri on Friday morning, triggered heavy rains in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, while gusty winds uprooted trees and electricity poles, officials said.

The cyclone moved close to north coastal Andhra before it made landfall in neighbouring Odisha.

Under its impact, gusty winds with speed reaching up to 140 kmph lashed the coastal area of Srikakulam district.

Srikakulam District Collector J. Nivas said three houses were damaged due to the winds but there was no loss of life. 

Andhra Pradesh: Relief operation by NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) is underway in Kotturu Mandal of Srikakulam which received rain and experienced strong winds today after Cyclone Fani made landfall. 

Extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' made a landfall in Puri on Odisha coast Friday morning, triggering heavy rainfall coupled with high velocity winds with speed of 175 kmph in vast areas.

Large areas in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri and other places were submerged with water as heavy rains battered the entire coastal belt of the state.

Several trees were uprooted and thatched structures destroyed at some places including Bhubaneswar.

Extremely severe cyclone Fani landfall started at 8 AM. Some of the portion of the eye has already entered land area, says HR Biswas, Director, Met Dept, Bhubaneswar. 

It will take 2 more hours to complete landfall process. Landfall position is close to Puri. It will continue upto 10.30 AM, he says. 

Watch: Cyclone Fani hits Puri in Odisha.

Watch Video: Rain and strong winds hit Paradip, Odisha 

In preparing for the aftermath of Cyclone Fani, Indian Coast Guard has positioned 34 Disaster Relief Teams at Vizag, Chennai, Paradip, Gopalpur, Haldia, Frazergunj and Kolkata besides four Coast Guard ships at Vizag and Chennai.

Andhra Pradesh: Strong winds hit Visakhapatnam as Cyclone Fani makes landfall in Odisha's Puri.

Cyclone Fani makes landfall in Odisha's Puri district. Mritunjay Mohapatra, in-charge of the Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department, said the process of landfall will continue for the next three hours.

The area along Puri is witnessing winds with a speed of 145 kilometres per hour that could reach up to 180-200 kmph, which could bring an "extensive damage", he said.

A cyclone making a landfall implies that the first arm of the cyclone has reached the land.

The eye of the cyclone, which is calm, is nearly 30 kilometres. 

Odisha: NDRF personnel at Paradip sea beach ask locals to vacate the area as strong winds and rain hit the region. Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall in Puri district anytime soon.

The impact of landfall process has started. Fani will make landfall between 8-11 am. In the morning at 6:31 AM it was 70 km south-southwest of Puri, it is moving now: HR Biswas, Director, Met Dept, Bhubaneswar. 

Odisha: People take refuge in a shelter in Paradip of Jagatsinghpur. Over 1 million people have been evacuated from vulnerable districts in last 24 hours and about 5000 kitchens are operating to serve people in shelters.

Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall in Puri district today.

Great danger signal no. 10 kept hoisted at Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam ports. Great danger signal no. 8 hoisted at Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports. Local cautionary signal no. 3 kept hoisted at Machilipatnam, Krishnapatnam, Nizamapatnam, Kakinada and Vadarevu ports: Cyclone Warning Center, Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

Andhra Pradesh: Visuals from Srikakulam as rain and strong winds hit the region. Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall in Puri district in Odisha today and continue till noon.

Odisha: Strong winds hit Bhubaneswar as Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall in Puri district today and continue till noon.

10 more trains have been cancelled today, in addition to the 7 cancelled on Thursday, says East Coast Railway. 

One train was cancelled on 6th May and one on 7th May. Railways had earlier cancelled 147 trains from 1st to 3rd May.

For evacuation, South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) will operate about 50 buses to carry passengers at Digha. This will minimise the inconvenience caused due to the suspension of train operations to Digha on that day.

The buses will be available at half an hour or lesser interval from 5 am in the morning. 15 more Buses will remain available and will be deployed if the situation demands. 

Odisha: Strong winds and rainfall hit Puri. Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall in Puri district today. Visuals from near Puri beach.

West Bengal: Latest visuals from the area around Bichali Ghat in Kolkata.

Cyclone Fani is expected to make landfall in Puri district of Odisha today. 

Landfall process very likely to continue till noon/afternoon today, says Indian Meteorological Department on Cyclone Fani. 

After the landfall, the system is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a severe cyclonic storm by early morning tomorrow, says IMD. 

Cyclone Fani is very likely to move further north-northwestwards and emerge into Bangladesh on 4 May evening as a Cyclonic Storm, it says.

301460 people have been evacuated. 541 pregnant women have been shifted to the hospital safely: District Magistrate, Ganjam (Odisha).

More than 1 million people have been evacuated from vulnerable districts in last 24 hours, says Odisha CMO.

Ganjam and Puri evacuated more than 3 lakh and 1.3 lakh people respectively to safe shelters. About 5000 kitchens started operating to serve people in the shelters, it says. 

Ministry of Home Affairs' Control Room helpline number for Cyclone Fani - 1938, becomes operational to provide latest updates

Odisha: Visuals from Jagatsinghpur district's Paradip which is on high alert in view of Cyclone Fani, the very severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall in Puri district of Odisha today.

Odisha: Visuals from Jagatsinghpur district's Paradip which is on high alert in view of Cyclone Fani, the very severe cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall in Puri district of Odisha today.

Puri: Cyclone Fani expected to make landfall in the district today.

Digha: Fishermen prohibited from venturing into the sea, asked to vacate the seashore and move to a relief centre.

"We are scared. Safety is our priority but once cyclone goes away, we'll need to earn money. Can't bear the damage to my fishing net," says Fisherman Sujit Muiya. 

Cyclone Fani very likely to cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri today during forenoon, with a maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph. Landfall process is very likely to continue till noon today: IMD