Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Fani, which is approaching the Odisha coast, has turned into an “extremely severe cyclonic” storm, the Navy said late last night.
The state has been put on a “yellow alert” by the weather department.
The
Met department has issued a “yellow warning” for the Odisha coast
predicting heavy to very heavy rain in several areas. Tamil Nadu and
Andhra Pradesh too are on high alert.
As many as 879 multipurpose cyclone shelters have been kept ready. The shelters can accommodate about one million people during cyclones and floods, an official said.
Meanwhile, the Odisha government on Wednesday ordered closure of all educational institutions in the state from tomorrow because of the cyclonic storm ‘Fani’, which is likely to hit the coast on May 3 afternoon.
Cyclone Fani: Temple Town Of Puri On Alert
Authorities
in Odisha also advised tourists to leave Puri by tomorrow evening and
cancel non-essential travel to the districts likely to be affected on
May 3 and May 4.
Cyclone Fani is expected to cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, to the south of Puri around afternoon on May 3.
(i) Wind warning
•
Gale wind speed reaching 180-190 kmph gusting to 210 kmph is prevailing
over westcentral and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, off north
Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coast during next 24
hours and 150-160 kmph gusting to 170 kmph is prevailing over
westcentral Bay of Bengal from 2nd May for subsequent 24 hours and
significant decrease thereafter.
• Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely
along & off Tamilnadu coast, Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and Kerala
during next 12 hours.
• Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along & off north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha Coasts from 2nd May and very likely to become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3rd May morning and become 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph over Odisha Coast and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph over adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram Districts) by 3rd May evening for subsequent 12 hours and significant decrease thereafter.
• Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely along & off West Bengal coast on 2 nd May. It would become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3 rd May evening and become 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph from 4th May morning.
(ii)Sea condition
• The sea condition is phenomenal over westcentral and adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal, off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coasts during 01-03 May 2019 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal during 02-04 May.
• Sea conditions very likely to be very rough to high along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coasts during 01-03 May and high to phenomenal along & off Odisha and West Bengal Coasts during 02-04 May.
(iii)Storm surge Warning
Storm surge of about 1.5 meter height above astronomical tide is very
likely to inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri &
Jagatsinghpur Districts of Odisha at the time of landfall.
(iv) Fishermen Warning
• The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas of Southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal during next 12 hours; Southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off Puducherry, north Tamilnadu & south Andhra Pradesh coasts till 1st May; westcentral Bay of Bengal, along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coast during 1-3 May and northwest & adjoining Westcentral Bay of Bengal along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts from 2-4 May.
• Those, who are out in deep sea above areas are advised to return to the coasts.
(v) (a) Damage Expected and Action suggested for Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha.
(i)
Extensive damage to all types of kutcha houses, some damage to old
badly managed Pucca structures. Potential threat from flying objects.
(ii) Extensive uprooting of communication and power poles.
(iii) Disruption of rail/road link at several places
(iv) Extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards.
(v) Blowing down of Palm and coconut trees.
(vi) Uprooting of large bushy trees.
(vii) Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings.
Action Suggested:
(viii) Total suspension of fishing operations.
(ix) Extensive evacuation from coastal areas.
(x) Diversion or suspension of rail and road traffic.
(xi) People in affected areas to remain indoors.
(xii) Movement in motor boats and small ships not advisable.
(b) Damage Expected and action suggested for Kendrapara, Bhadrak,
Jajpur, Balasore districts of Odisha and east & west Medinipur,
south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts of West
Bengal and Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram districts of
Andhra Pradesh
(xiii) Total destruction of thatched houses/
extensive damage to kutcha houses. Some damage to pucca houses.
Potential threat from flying objects.
(xiv) Bending/ uprooting of power and communication poles.
(xv) Major damage to Kutcha and and Pucca roads. Flooding of escape
routes. Minor disruption of railways, overhead powerlines and signalling
systems.
(xvi) Widespread damage to standing crops, plantations,
orchards, falling of green coconuts and tearing of palm fronds. Blowing
down of bushy trees like mango.
(xvii) Small boats, country crafts may get detached from moorings. (vi) Visibility severely affected.
Action Suggested:
(xviii) Total suspension of fishing operations. Mobilise evacuation from coastal areas.
(xix) Judicious regulation of rail and road traffic.
(xx) People in affected areas to remain indoors. (iv) Movement in motor boats and small ships unsafe.