Severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' heading towards Odisha

Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Cyclone Fani itensified into a very severe cyclonic storm on Tuesday, and is likely hit the Odisha coast between Puri and Kendrapara by Friday, a senior official said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) is yet to specify the exact location of landfall.

The system is predicted to further gain strength and move in the Northwest direction until tomorrow(Wednesday)evening. 

Later it is predicted to move towards North-northeast and head for Odisha coast, thereby not making landfall anywhere near Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. 

S Balachandran, director, Regional Meteorological Centre in Chennai, said, "gusty winds of 30-50 kmph speeds are likely in the North Tamil Nadu coast, Kanniyakumari and Gulf of Mannar region, while chances of mild to moderate rainfall remained in the North Tamil Nadu. Rough conditions are expected to prevail in the Northwest and the central Bay of Bengal until May 2."

"There is no landfall over Tamil Nadu and South Andhra coast and that directly impact over the region was ruled out. As per the current data, the system is to move towards the Odisha coast by May 3 evening, while there is no confirmation of it making landfall there," he said.

The possibility of rains in Chennai city brought hopes of a respite from the sweltering heat and humidity, in a city that is already reeling under water scarcity after a severe rainfall deficit. With the cyclone set to move towards Odisha and not getting anywhere close to the Chennai coast, the likelihood of even low to moderate rainfall seems bleak, save for isolated showers. 

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), 'Fani' was centred at about 760 km southeast of Machilipatnam on Tuesday. It is very likely to intensify further into an extremely severe cyclonic storm during next 36 hours to move northwestwards till May 1 evening and thereafter, 'recurve' northeastwards towards the Odisha coast.

Light to moderate rainfall at a few places is very likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and south coastal Odisha on May 2. The IMD has forecast rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places over coastal Odisha and adjoining districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh on May 3 and 4.

Meanwhile, a statement from the Indian Navy said that the force remains on high alert for cyclone Fani relief efforts.

“The Eastern Naval Command(ENC) has assumed a high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are standing by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid. Naval aircraft are also standing by at the Naval Air stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, and INS Dega at Visakhapatnam to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material to the stranded if required”, said the statement.