Today, Cyclone Fani, one of the biggest storms to come in the Indian Ocean made landfall in eastern India as per the reports of India’s Meteorological Department. It had made landfall at 8 am, also forecasters supposed that Cyclone Fani would pack sustained wind speeds of about 180 to 190 kph and will gusts up to about 200 kph which is equal in strength to a Category 3 to 4 hurricanes.
Sadly more than 100 million people are in the path of this disastrous Cyclone Fani. 11districts close to Odisha coast are on red alert. It has crossed the Odisha Coast, which is close to Puri amid 8 am to 10 am today, making it an official landfall.
According to Philip Klotzbach from Colorado State University, Cyclone Fani is recognized as the strongest cyclone this year in North Indian Ocean after Cyclone Nargis in 2008.
IMD Director in Odisha state capital Bhubaneswar, H.R Biswas, told media that ‘we recorded speeds up to 175 to 180 kilometers, i.e. 110 miles per hour some hours back.’
Hundreds and thousands more in West Bengal state has been given evacuation orders. Also, special teams went to holiday villages to warn them and to request them to move to safety areas.
There were many pictures of many uprooted trees along with coast in Andhra Pradesh were shared by India’s National Disaster Response Force. Though NDRF team are removing the fallen trees as well as branches to ensure safety and that they do not become projectiles when winds exaggerate.
A resident of Puri in Odisha, Jyotirmayee Panda, told media that ‘we are not able to know what is happening outside as there is darkness everywhere. We can only hear the sound of roofs being blown away along with trees and poles which are hitting the ground. This is very much scary, and the wind is picking up its speed. Water is now entering our residence. We cannot even cook now, and god will just save us.’
All trains, as well as flights, are canceled in Odisha as numerous passengers are waiting at Bhubaneswar airport and railway stations. As per Indian meteorological department prediction Cyclone, Fani will sweep up into West Bengal and will reach Bangladesh on Saturday and will weaken gradually. On the other hand, forecasters also warned the total destruction of thatched houses along with uprooting power and communication poles. Along with it they also warned flooding of escape routes as well as damage of crops in several regions.
As per the state relief department official about 7, 80,000 people were shifted to safer areas. About 1000 shelters have been set up in government buildings and schools to accommodate approximately one million people.
All the preparations were done prior by the government
As per a journalist based in Odisha, Jajati Karan said that Odisha is very cyclone-prone area; however, no causalities have been reported yet as all the preparations were done prior by the government.’ Also, measures have been taken to protect the 8th century old Jagannath temple too. Many officials made declarations on megaphones across coastal areas telling that residents to move their homes.
Mass SMS text messages have also been sent out to residents. Ports have been closed; however, the Indian Navy has sent about six warships to the region. Along with it, India’s biggest oil and gas producer ONGC transported about 500 workers from offshore rigs too.
PM Narendra Modi said that he was reviewing the country’s attentiveness ahead of the Cyclone’s landfall. He tweeted that ‘the Central government is ready to offer all possible support and help that would be required. Prayers for safety and well being of our citizens.’
In expectation of Cyclone Fani’s arrival, operations at Paradip Port in Odisha were suspended on Wednesday only for extraordinary safety measures. Also, Kolkata Airport will also be closed from 9:30 pm local time on Friday to 6 pm Saturday. More than 100 trains have also been canceled along with two more trains diverted because of Cyclone Fani.
However Fani will start weakening prior to reaching Kolkata, damaging winds and downpours will be possible from today’s afternoon till tomorrow. From Saturday night till Sunday Cyclone Fani will weaken into a tropical rainstorm.
