Cyclone Fani: United Nations lauds India Meteorological Department

The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), which works towards the substantial reduction of disaster risk and losses to ensure a sustainable future, has lauded India Metrological Department (IMD) for providing "pinpoint" information that helped authorities to minimize loss of life.

Denis McClean, spokesperson for the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) said, "They seem to have done a good job in terms of minimising the possibility of a loss of life...A huge effort has been made to reduce the possibility of a loss of life in this instance"

India has been focusing on zero causality policy when it comes to cyclone preparedness and in the past has been able to prove its performances. When Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Phaili hit India in 2013, India was able to keep the casualty figures as low as 45, despite its intensity.

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McClean who spoke to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) head said, "the almost pinpoint accuracy of the early warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department had allowed the authorities to conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan" which resulted in "1.1 million people moving to about 900 cyclone shelters."

Cyclone Fani which made landfall in Odisha is a category 4 storm.

16 more teams of NDRF were deployed in Odisha and 3 more teams in West Bengal on Saturday. Schools were shut, airports closed, and transport suspended, and although damage to infrastructure is expected to be severe.