Cyclone Fani live updates: 8 people dead; aerial survey shows massive devastation around Puri

The rescue and relief agencies in Odisha are on high alert in view of Cyclone Fani. The landfall process of the extremely severe cyclone began nearly at 8 am on Friday close to Puri in Odisha, winds blowing at a maximum speed of 240-245 km per hour and heavy to very heavy rains are continuing over the coastal areas, the IMD said.

After landfall, the impact is likely to reduce and it is likely to move towards West Bengal coast, the IMD confirmed. 

Over 11.5 lakh people in vulnerable, low-lying areas of 13 districts are being shifted to cyclone shelters. 

The railways have already suspended operations of trains in Odisha and all trains in Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section (of the Kolkata-Chennai route) has been cancelled till Saturday. A total of 140 trains including 83 passenger trains have been cancelled so far.

Here are the latest updates on Cyclone Fani: 

* Cyclone Fani passes through West Bengal's Digha

* The death toll due to the cyclone has increased to eight-3 in Puri district, 3 in Bhubaneswar and surroundings, 1 each in Nayagarh and Kendrapara. While three people, including a teenage boy, were reported killed in Puri district, three perished in Bhubaneswar and nearby areas. Flying debris from a concrete structure fatally struck a woman in Nayagarh. An elderly woman died of a heart attack at a relief shelter in Kendrapara district, official sources said.

* The Naval Dornier aircraft, deployed to carry out aerial survey of Odisha to assess the impact of the Cyclone Fani near Puri, observed extensive devastation to vegetation in many places around Puri. 

Odisha: Naval Dornier Aircraft conducted an aerial survey of Puri, earlier today. #CycloneFani pic.twitter.com/h35yv75mHD — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Heavy rainfall and strong winds lash West Bengal's Digha

* Due to cyclone Fani, AIIMS Delhi has cancelled the AIIMS PG exam, scheduled for May 5, at the exam centre in Bhubaneswar. Another exam will be conducted for students affected by this cancellation as soon as normalcy returns, said H & FW Secretary Preeti Sudan

AIIMS PG exam is scheduled on 5th May. Due to cyclone Fani, AIIMS Delhi is cancelling the exam centre in Bhubaneswar. Another exam will be conducted for students affected by this cancellation as soon as normalcy returns : H & FW Secretary Preeti Sudan — Sitanshu Kar (@DG_PIB) May 3, 2019

* Following are the control room number of Collectorate in 30 districts of Odisha

* Rescue and relief operation by Indian Navy in Odisha: Additional relief material and medical teams have been augmented to Odisha from Visakhapatnam. INS Ranvijay and Airavat with integral helicopters have also sailed from Visakhapatnam with relief material including medical stores and Medical Teams and are proceeding to Odisha to conjoin the rescue operation with IN Ships Sahyadri, Ranvir and Kadmatt.

*Dornier Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft was launched to undertake an aerial survey to assess the impact of the cyclone and the extent of the devastation this afternoon. The Relief Material mobilised to Odisha thus far includes 10 HADR pallets and 5 Medical pallets sufficient to cater for nearly 1000 personnel.

#IndianNavy Dornier got airborne from Vizag this afternoon for u/t aerial survey to assess the impact & extent of devastation caused in the aftermath of #CycloneFani pic.twitter.com/ujDobjVikU — SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 3, 2019

* So far 9 NDRF teams have been deployed as per details:

# Distt Jhargram- one team 
# Distt East Medinipur- 3 teams
# Distt West Medinipur- 2 teams
# Distt 24 Pgs South-1 team
# Distt 24 Pgs North-2 teams.
# Team deployed at Ramnagar-1, Digha evacuated 617 persons and shifted them to nearby shelters.

* The cyclone will enter Digha in West Bengal anytime now.

* Indian Navy Dornier got airborne from Vizag this afternoon for an aerial survey to assess the impact and extent of devastation caused in the aftermath of the cyclone.

* The government confirms seven people have been killed in the cyclone.

* A scene at Howrah and Bhubaneswar railway stations

* The cyclone has moved slightly northwards and lay centred at 4.30 pm over coastal Odisha about 50 km to the northeast of Cuttack. Bhubaneswar reported maximum sustained wind speed of 98 kmph southwesterly wind at 2.30 pm.

THE “FANI” MOVED SLIGHTLY NORTHWARDS & LAY CENTERED AT 1630 HOURS IST OF TODAY NEAR LAT 20.80N & LONG 86.30E OVER COASTAL ODISHA ABOUT 50 KM TO NORTHEAST OF CUTTACK. BHUBANESWAR REPORTED MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WIND SPEED OF 98 KMPH SOUTHWESTERLY WIND AT 1430 HRS IST OF TODAY. pic.twitter.com/esOmP3GXan — India Met. Dept. (@Indiametdept) May 3, 2019

* The cyclone has already hit Bhadrak in Odisha.

* GEC Bhubaneswar bus was blown away by strong winds.

* Six light helicopters with a winch for rescue work, five medium lift helicopters for deploying the relief material and four AN 32 aircraft have been kept ready with medical relief teams for ferrying relief material, medical help and NDRF teams with equipment. Helicopters have been kept ready at Bagdogra and Purnea for quick deployment in Odisha and West Bengal. In addition, at Silchar Kumbhigram medium lift helicopters have been kept standby for the phase when the storm would start to affect the states of Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland.

* A crane at an under construction high rise falls on houses in Bhubaneshwar during the cyclone.

A crane at an under construction high rise falls on houses in Bhubaneshwar during #CycloneFani pic.twitter.com/12khpYtfTW — Priyarag Verma (@priyarag) May 3, 2019

*

@IndiaCoastGuard Shaunak off Odisha coast ready for relief and rescue work following #CycloneFani pic.twitter.com/4UjEm7eSVh — Priyarag Verma (@priyarag) May 3, 2019

* A child in Kendrapada collects coconuts which fell from the trees due Cyclone Fani

* A coast guard ship heading to undertake Humanitarian Assistance And Disaster Relief (HADR) with relief material onboard off Odisha coast.

#SevereCyclonicStorm #Fani and consequent #VeryRoughSea do not deter #CoastGuard ship while she proceeds to undertake #HADR. @IndiaCoastGuard Ship with relief material onboard off #Odisha coast heading 4 humanitarian mission @DefenceMinIndia @SpokespersonMoD @PIB_India @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/xZF8hcgkau — Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) May 3, 2019

* Many suburban trains of Sealdah south section has been cancelled.

* WATCH: A roof being blown off at the undergraduate hostel in AIIMS Bhubaneshwar due to the cyclone.

Video clip of a roof being blown off at the undergraduate hostel in AIIMS Bhubaneshwar due to #CycloneFani #Fani #FaniCyclone #FaniUpdates pic.twitter.com/97c5ELQJ46 — Sitanshu Kar (@DG_PIB) May 3, 2019

* Cuttack Bhubaneswar Road

* SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack

#CycloneFani SCB Medical College Hospital, Cuttack pic.twitter.com/M6RyaeY5Fs — Priyarag Verma (@priyarag) May 3, 2019

* Facebook activates 'I am safe' option as Cyclone Fani wreaks havoc in Odisha. Read full report

* News report said that at least 3 people have lost their lives in Odisha due to Cyclone Fani. This is the first report of casualty from the state. 

* Cyclone Fani: Chaos among passengers as Kolkata airport closed for several hours till Saturday. Read full report

* Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the country's biggest fuel retailer, Friday 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.

* PM Narendra announces Rs 1000 crore relief package for Cyclone Fani

कल ही हम इस चक्रवात से जूझ रहे राज्यों के लिए 1000 करोड़ रूपये से ज्यादा एडवांस में राशि जारी कर चुके हैं।

NDRF , कोस्टगार्ड, भारतीय नौसेना और थल सेना पूरी मुस्तैदी के साथ प्रशासन के साथ जुटी हुई हैं: प्रधानमंत्री श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी https://t.co/QDvz0gDQqD #ModiJahanVikasWahan pic.twitter.com/zEv0jFjFCR — BJP LIVE (@BJPLive) May 3, 2019

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

Odisha: Food being distributed at cyclone shelter set up at Sea Aquarium, in Paradip. #CycloneFani pic.twitter.com/I9DL5TM6BU — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Odisha: Police personnel of Nayapalli police station clear roads in Bhubaneswar. Several trees have been uprooted in the heavy rain and strong winds which hit the region today. 

* Kolkata airport will be closed from 3:00 pm but no message has been given to passengers. Passengers present at Kolkata airport are in a confused state. They are walking through shots there.

* Bhubaneswar is likely to be hit by high-velocity wind of around 140 kmph.

* After the landfall, the system is passing through Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore before entering West Bengal, said Special Relief Commissioner BP Sethi. 

* Over one lakh dry food packets have been kept ready for air dropping for which two choppers requisitioned, said Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi.

* High winds are also sweeping across several coastal districts like Ganjam, Khurda and Gajapati, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said.

* Arrangements have been made to start free kitchens at the cyclone shelters. Around 4,000 such shelters, including 880 specially designed cyclone centres, are housing the evacuees.

* Extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani which made landfall in the Indian state of Odisha on Friday, is expected to affect the regular pattern of weather conditions in some parts of Nepal, weather officials said in Kathmandu.

* No flights to and from Kolkata airport between 3 p.M. Friday to 8 p.M. Saturday: DGCA.

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

* Indian Navy's P-8I and Dornier are being scheduled to be launched in the afternoon for undertaking an aerial survey to assess the extent of impact and devastation post-Fani crossing 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. By evening, it may weaken into severe cyclonic storm over extreme northern part of Odisha: Mrityunjay Mohapatra, IMD Delhi

* Road clearance by the fire brigade department at the peak hour of cyclonic storm at Puri grand road. 

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

Rough sea weather conditions in Bhadrak, Odisha under the influence of #CycloneFani. pic.twitter.com/la0z3W5aVG — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Heavy rainfall and speedy wind uprooted trees, which were removed by Khallikote PS staff of Ganjam. 

* The eye of the system has completely moved the landmass by 1000 hrs IST of today. The extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani is very likely to move north-northeastwards and weaken into a very severe cyclonic storm during the next 6 hours.

* Damaging houses, thousands of trees and electricity poles, uprooting trees, the eye of Fani almost 25 km in diameter is sending off wind velocity of 150 to 175 kmph and even above at some places touching 180 or more, says IMD.

* High alert sounded in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh as Cyclone Fani hits Odisha. Read full report

* In extremely adverse weather conditions, Ganjam Police clearing roads and uprooted trees being removed at Chatrapur areas.

* Mamata Banerjee cancels all public rallies as West Bengal braces for Cyclone Fani. Read full report

* Intense spell of rainfall very likely over Kolkata and neighbourhood from 1030 hrs IST on Friday as Cyclone Fani approached: ACWC Kolkata.

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

Odisha: Heavy rainfall and strong winds hit Ganjam as #FANI cyclone hits Puri coast with wind speed of above 175km/per hour. pic.twitter.com/30jdhND8L7 — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* After landfall, it is very likely to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a severed cyclonic storm and move to Bangladesh after weakening, ANI reported quoting IMD officials on Cyclone Fani.

* Bhubaneswar: People take shelter during gusty winds ahead of the landfall of cyclone Fani, at Bhubaneswar railway station

* 13 Navy aircraft are at standby in Visakhapatnam to carry out damage assessment and relief distribution requirements.

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

#WATCH Rain and strong winds hit Bhubaneswar as #FANI cyclone hits Puri coast with wind speed of above 175km/per hour. pic.twitter.com/QZYkk1EALI — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

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

* Several trees uprooted along the coast in Andhra Pradesh

Cyclone Fani Ground Reports : AP - SRIKAKULAM DISTRICT : ____ @ ____ _ _ #TEAMNDRFINDIA #StaySafe #stayalert #stayprepared pic.twitter.com/ndFsHTeWGq - __t__ n pr_dh_n, dir_ct_r g_n_r_l,ndrf (@satyaprad1) May 3, 2019

* R Shukla, IMD Paradip, Odisha: Landfall process started around 8:00 am and is expected to complete within 2 hours. Then it's expected to move north-northeastwards, covering all the districts in coastal Odisha, towards West Bengal. Wind speed of 35 km/hr recorded in latest updates at 9:00 am and it will increase.

* Cyclone Fani: Coast Guard deploys 4 ships, 34 disaster relief teams. Read full report

* Coast guard radar at Sagar Island remote operating station in Bhubaneswar: 

* Helpline number for Ganjam district:

Tollfree number: 1950
06811 263978
06811263976

District control centre 
Ganjam collector office 
Chatrapur

* Kolkata: Helpline number issued from West Bengal district

Helpline number: 22535185
Disaster management office: 2237-4033 / 2236-3594 / 222-52179 Civil Defense
Vodafone and  Airtel will alert through SMS

* Andhra Pradesh: Relief operation by NDRF is underway in Kotturu Mandal of  Srikakulam which received rain and experienced strong winds today. #CycloneFani has made a landfall in Odisha's Puri.

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. #CycloneFani has made a landfall in Odisha's Puri. (Pic source: NDRF) pic.twitter.com/gzTZUzWMHT — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Indian Navy warship rolls in Bay of Bengal as Cyclone Fani rushes towards Odisha. Read full report

* The already rough sea in Puri is turbulent. Evacuation has been carried out till 5 km of the beach area. Even the calm sea in Chandipur is violent, officials said.

* Disaster Management team ready at Balasore Station to face the situations.

* "Due to cyclone Fani, Gopalpur port operation will stand suspended till conditions improve. Port operations will resume after an assessment," said Jagdish Chandra Rout, associate vice-president (corporate affairs & communication), Shapoorji Pallonji Port Maintenance Pvt Ltd, Gopalpur Port Ltd.

* Heavy rains occur in West Bengal's Haldia due to Cyclone Fani.

* Watch: Cyclone Fani hits Puri in Odisha

#WATCH #CycloneFani hits Puri in Odisha. pic.twitter.com/X0HlYrS0rf — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Railways issues a helpline number for train related information

* Landfall started at 0800 hrs IST.Part of the eye lies over land at 0830 hrs IST.The entire process of eye entering into land will be completed in next 2 hrs. Current wind speed of cyclone is 175-185 kmph gusting to 195 kmph. 

* Cyclone Fani hits Odisha coast: Thousands evacuated; Navy ships on standby with relief materials. Read full report

* Landfall continues. Eye of Cyclone crossing Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali near Puri.

* Current wind speed of the cyclone is 175-185 kmph gusting to 195 kmph. Puri reported maximum sustained wind speed of 142 kmph gusting to 174 kmph at 7.30 hours today: HR Biswas, Director, Met office

* 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.

* Cyclone Fani: Rain and strong winds hit Paradip, Odisha.

#WATCH Rain and strong winds hit Paradip, Odisha. #CycloneFani pic.twitter.com/YJZ7oCS191 — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Cyclone Fani hits Odisha coast: Millions evacuated; Navy ships on standby with relief materials. Read full report

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

Andhra Pradesh: Strong winds hit Visakhapatnam as #CycloneFani makes landfall in Odisha's Puri. pic.twitter.com/horXzAifNR — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Due to Cyclone Fani, rain occurs at Dhenkanal district in Rajasthan. 

Rainfall data of Jajpur district: 

Badachana: 20mm
Rasulpur: 33.6mm
Sukinda: 31.2mm
Binjharpur: 33.4mm
Korei: 36.6mm
Jajpur: 25 mm
Danagadi: 27mm
Bari: 15.5mm
Dasarathpur: 18 mm
Dharmasala: 15 mm

Total Rainfall: 255.3mm
Average: 25.53mm

* 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", says Mritunjay Mohapatra, in-charge of the Cyclone Warning Division of IMD.

* District administration arrange food for pregnant women at Maa Gruha Khajuripada in Gajapati district.

* Odisha: NDRF personnel at Paradip sea beach vacate the area as strong winds and rain hit the region. #CycloneFani is expected to make landfall in Puri district soon.

Odisha: NDRF personnel at Paradip sea beach ask locals to vacate the area as strong winds and rain hit the region. #CycloneFani is expected to make landfall in Puri district soon. pic.twitter.com/h18cJaxmul — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Puri circuit house near the sea beach as Cyclone Fani hits Odisha

Puri circuit house near the sea beach as Cyclone Fani hits Odisha pic.twitter.com/ZLfI6uz9JX — Priyarag Verma (@priyarag) May 3, 2019

* Photos from Cuttack: 

* The following 6 (3 of them on diverted route*) trains are controlled at suitable locations where we are having catering/watering/AC charging facilities.

1) 18426 Durg-Puri Sambalpur dep 4:05 will be controlled at ANGUL (300 passengers only)

2) 12802 * Purushottam Express from NewDelhi controlled at Sambalpur city station. 

3) 22865 LTT MUMBAI-Puri Express controlled at Sambalpur Main station since 0650

4) 18402 * Okha-Puri Express on diverted route approaching TITLAGARH.

5) 22973 * GANDHIDHAM-Puri Express on diverted route controlled at Titlagarh from 0730

6) 18478 Utkal Express controlled at Rourkela from 1900 HRS yesterday.

* Wind speed in Puri is 175 kmph

Wind speed in Bhubaneswar is 50 kmph

* Visuals from coastal town of Digha in West Bengal as #CycloneFani is expected to make landfall in Odisha's Puri district by 11 am. According to the Met Dept, the impact of landfall process has begun.

#WATCH Visuals from coastal town of Digha in West Bengal as #CycloneFani is expected to make landfall in Odisha's Puri district by 11 am. According to the Met Dept, the impact of landfall process has begun. pic.twitter.com/R5iJY4vjGD — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Odisha: People take refuge in a shelter in Paradip of Jagatsinghpur. Over 1 million people have been evacuated from vulnerable districts in last 24 hrs & about 5000 kitchens are operating to serve people in shelters. #CycloneFani is expected to make a landfall in Puri dist today.

Odisha: People take refuge in a shelter in Paradip of Jagatsinghpur. Over 1 million people have been evacuated from vulnerable districts in last 24 hrs & about 5000 kitchens are operating to serve people in shelters. #CycloneFani is expected to make a landfall in Puri dist today. pic.twitter.com/Hp3oXhkPSB — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Odisha Bhadrak Municipality people shifted to safe zones. However, there is no food for people till now. Oeople waiting for food.

* Cyclone Fani: MHA sets up control room, its Helpline Number 1938 becomes operational. Read full report

* HR Biswas, Director, Met Dept, Bhubaneswar: The impact of landfall process has started. Fani will make a 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: The impact of landfall process has started. Fani will make a landfall between 8-11 am. In the morning at 6:31 AM it was 70 km south-southwest of Puri, it is moving now. #CyclonicStormFANI pic.twitter.com/1eUfqYCXXl — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* #CycloneFani Latest weather in Orissa as follows (a) Chilka - Winds 74 kmph gusting to 80 kmph, moderate rains, weather squally and a few trees uprooted. (b) Puri - light rains, winds 50 kmph @SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia @adgpi @IAF_MCC @ShivAroor @PIB_India @airnewsalerts

— SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) May 3, 2019

* Cyclone Warning Center, Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): Great danger signal no. 10 kept hoisted at Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam ports. Great danger signal no. 8 hoisted at Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports

Cyclone Warning Center, Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh): Great danger signal no. 10 kept hoisted at Kalingapatnam, Bheemunipatnam ports. Great danger signal no. 8 hoisted at Visakhapatnam and Gangavaram ports. #CycloneFani — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Photo from Puri: 

* Three more NDRF teams of Bn. deployed. Total 18 teams of 03 Bn. deployed for Cyclone Fai in Odisha. 10 teams of other Bn. deployed. These 3 teams are directed to report to Commissioner, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation.

* Odisha: Strong winds hit Bhubaneswar. #CycloneFani is expected to make a landfall in Puri district today and continue till noon.

#WATCH Odisha: Strong winds hit Bhubaneswar. #CycloneFani is expected to make a landfall in Puri district today and continue till noon. pic.twitter.com/Y90eUyxmke — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

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

Andhra Pradesh: Visuals from Srikakulam as rain and strong winds hit the region. #CycloneFani is expected to make a landfall in Puri district in Odisha today and continue till noon. pic.twitter.com/GDnufvrQag — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Cyclone Fani, which is expected to make a landfall at the Odisha coast by Friday forenoon, was nearly 65 kilometres from Gopalpur and 80 kilometres from Puri at 5.30 am, the IMD said. The Cyclone Warning Division of the India Meteorological Department said the wind speed of the Extremely Severe Cyclone Fani could reach 200-230 kilometres when it makes the landfall. 

* East Coast Railway: It has further been decided to cancel 10 more trains - 7 trains on 3rd May, one train on 4th May, one train on 6th May & one train on 7th May. Railways had earlier cancelled 147 trains from 1st to 3rd May.

East Coast Railway: It has further been decided to cancel 10 more trains - 7 trains on 3rd May, one train on 4th May, one train on 6th May & one train on 7th May. Railways had earlier cancelled 147 trains from 1st to 3rd May. #CyclonicStormFANI pic.twitter.com/uuTAseYHLr — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* 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.

* South Bengal State Transport Corporation (SBSTC) will operate about 50 Buses from Digha on 3rd May to evacuate the stranded tourists at Digha to minimise the inconvenience caused due to suspension of train operations to Digha on that day. 

#WATCH Odisha: Strong winds and rainfall hit Puri. #CycloneFani is expected to make a landfall in Puri district today. Visuals from near Puri Beach. pic.twitter.com/Wc9i851CNY — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Current wind speed of Cyclone Fani is 185-195 kmph gusting to 205 kmph.

* Six teams of 2 Bn NDRF deployed in West Bengal in connection with Cyclonic storm Fani at following places:

1. Sankrsil, Distt Jhargram
2. Narayangarh Block, Kharagpur, Distt West Medinipur
3. Ramnagar-1 block, Digha Distt East Medinipur
4. Kakdwip Distt South 24 Parganas
5. Dhamakhali Distt North 24 Parganas
6. Hasnabad Distt North 24 Parganas

* About a million people evacuated in the last 24 hours from vulnerable districts. At least 3 lakh people evacuated from Ganjam and1.3 lakh from Puri districts.

* Visuals of IPS Sri Pinak Mishra, SP Berhampur requesting natives with folded hands to cooperate and move to the safe zones. 

* Heavy rainfall continuing over coastal Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh.

* Gopalpur reported 52 kmph wind and 10 cm rain at 0130 hrs IST.

* Rainfall reported over Gopalpur - 10cm, Puri - 8cm and Kalingapatnam - 9 cm at around 2:30 hrs IST on Friday. 

* Odisha: #Visuals from Jagatsinghpur district's Paradip which is on high alert in view of #CycloneFani; the very severe cyclonic storm is expected to make a landfall in Puri district of Odisha today

Odisha: #Visuals from Jagatsinghpur district's Paradip which is on high alert in view of #CycloneFani; the very severe cyclonic storm is expected to make a landfall in Puri district of Odisha today pic.twitter.com/RHK5hnBlx0 — ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2019

* Ministry of Home Affairs' Control Room helpline number for #CycloneFani- 1938, becomes operational to provide latest updates.

* The Odisha government has suspended Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Rayagada, Siva Prasad Padhi, for not joining duty despite the government`s order cancelling holidays of all employees in the Health Department in view of the cyclonic storm Fani. The state government had earlier cancelled the leaves of all the doctors and employees in the Health Department till May 15. 

* 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 ctorm with wind speed of 90-100 Kmph gusting to 115 Kmph by early morning of May 4. It is very likely to move further north-northeastwards and emerge into Bangladesh on May 4 evening as a cyclonic storm with wind speed 60-70 Kmph gusting to 80 Kmph.

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

* Fani is billed as the most severe cyclonic storm since the super cyclone of 1999 that claimed close to 10,000 lives and left a trail of destruction in vast swathes of Odisha, according to the Joint Typhoon Warning Centre. After crossing Odisha, the cyclone is likely to move towards West Bengal before tapering off. It is, however, still likely to impact parts of the northeast, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. It is expected to make landfall around 9 30 am on Friday close to Puri. 

* Fishermen have been prohibited from venturing into the sea, and locals near the seashore are being moved to a `multipurpose cyclone shelter` that was built in 2009 when Cyclone Aila hit the region.