'Fani' to cross Odisha Coast on Friday, Coast Guard deploy ships for relief and rescue operations

New Delhi (India), Apr 30 (ANI): The cyclonic storm 'Fani' is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, to the south of Puri around May 3 in the afternoon with wind speed gusting to 205 Kmph, according to a MET department prediction.
A warning has been issued for several districts of Odisha, West Bengal and north coastal Andhra Pradesh.
"It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 1 evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and cross Odisha Coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, to the south of Puri around May 3 afternoon," said Indian Meterological Department. 
A storm surge of about 1.5-metres height above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri and Jagatsinghpur Districts of Odisha at the time of landfall.
Heavy damage is expected in Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha while the cyclone is also likely to play havoc in Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore districts of Odisha and east and west Medinipur, south and north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts of West Bengal and Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Wherein, it is likely to cause extensive damage to all types of ‘kutcha’ houses, some damage to old badly managed Pucca structures, extensive uprooting of communication and power poles, disruption of rail/road link at several places,  extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards, blowing down of palm and coconut trees and uprooting of large bushy trees.  Also, large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings.
 IMD informed that the severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ lay centred this afternoon at about 800 kms South of Puri. As per IMD, it is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 24 hours and move northwestwards till May 1 evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and reach Odisha Coast by the afternoon of  May 3.
The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas of Southwest and adjoining the southeast Bay of Bengal on April 30, Southwest and adjoining the west-central Bay of Bengal, along and off Puducherry, north Tamil Nadu and south Andhra Pradesh coasts till May 1; west central Bay of Bengal, along and off north Andhra Pradesh Coast during  May 1-3  and northwest and adjoining west central Bay of Bengal along and off Odisha and West Bengal coasts from May 2-4.
Those, who are out in deep sea above areas are advised to return to the coasts.
" Fishermen who are still venturing into the sea have been advised to return to the coast by today. Due to this Cyclone effect in Telangana and some parts of Andhra Pradesh may experience Hot heavy winds" says Nagaratna, Scientist - D, Meteorology Department, Hyderabad.
It will bring light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram Districts) on May 2 and rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on May 3.
Also in Odisha, it will bring light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south coastal Odisha on May 2.
“It is likely to increase with rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) at isolated places over coastal Odisha & its adjoining districts of interior Odisha on May 3 and over north Odisha on May 4,” said IMD.
While West Bengal may see light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on May 3 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places will be seen over Gangetic West Bengal on May 4.
Reviewing the preparedness of the States and Central Agencies, in the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) meeting held today, Cabinet Secretary directed that all necessary measures be taken to prevent any loss of life and to keep in readiness essential supplies including food, drinking water and medicines etc. Indian Coast Guard and the Navy have deployed ships and helicopters for relief and rescue operations.
Army and Air Force units in the three states have also been put on standby. NDRF is deploying total of 41 teams - in Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (28) and West Bengal (5) - for prepositioning. In addition, NDRF is keeping on standby 13 teams in West Bengal and 10 in Andhra Pradesh.  (ANI)