Cyclone ‘Fani’ rolled through Odisha on Friday, packing rain and windstorm that gusted up to 175 kmph, leaving at least three people dead, blowing away thatched houses, and swamping towns and villages. The extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ or the ‘Hood of Snake’ made landfall around 8 a.m. in Puri, with roaring winds flattening huts, enveloping the pilgrim town in sheets of rain, and submerging homes in residential areas.
Special Relief Commissioner B P Sethi said three people were reported dead in different incidents in Puri, Nayagarh and Kendrapara districts. The cyclonic system, whose eye is around 28 km wide, is moving at around 30 kmph, Biswas said. But within the system, the winds are reaching speeds of up to 175 kilometers per hour that may go up to 200 kmph, leaving in their wake uprooted trees and thatched structures, including in the state capital Bhubaneswar.
The evacuees have been accommodated in over 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed cyclone centres. After the landfall, the system is passing through Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore before it would enter West Bengal, Sethi said, adding that Bhubaneswar was likely to be hit by high velocity wind of around 140 kmph.
Telecommunication lines got snapped in several parts of state capital Bhubaneswar and several other areas. Mobile towers were damaged and power supply was disconnected in many places. A Bhubaneswar report said scores of trees collapsed, blocking roads. Airports in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata have been closed. No flights will depart or arrive at Kolkata airport from 3 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday, aviation regulator DGCA said in New Delhi.
Here are the top updates from Cyclone Fani
Govt of India Spokesperson: As per telephonic information, in Puri, extensive damage to kuchha houses, old buildings and temporary shops. No confirmed report of deaths, but 160 reportedly injured. Power and telecom is completely down. NDRF & State forces are clearing roads
SN Pradhan, DG NDRF: As of now, three persons have lost their lives in the cyclone. The precautions that have been taken should be continued
Odisha: Strong winds & heavy rainfall hit Bhubaneswar city; Visuals from Biju Patnaik International Airport
Odisha: Indian Coast Guard loading relief material on a chopper; relief material to be distributed to people affected due to #CycloneFani.
Visuals of heavy rainfall and strong winds from Balipatna in Khurda after #CycloneFani made a landfall in Odisha’s Puri.
Odisha: Food being distributed at cyclone shelter set up at Sea Aquarium, in Paradip. #CycloneFani
