Cyclone Fani, the strongest to hit India in five years, crashed into Odisha on Friday, mowing down infrastructure and farms but authorities appeared to have kept the death toll down, following a mammoth evacuation effort.

8 casualities so far as Cyclone Fani hits out Odisha

Watch How Cyclone Fani racked havoc in East India.

Cyclone Fani racked havoc in East India

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/lanka-suicide-bombers-visited-kashmir-kerala-for-some-sorts-of-training-army-chief-215900">Sri Lanka suicide bombers visited Kashmir, Kerala for 'some sorts of training': Army chief</a>

Sri Lanka Army's chief has said that some of the&nbsp;suicide bombers&nbsp;who carried out the country's worst terror attack on Easter Sunday visited Kashmir and Kerala for "some sorts of training" or to "make some more links" with other foreign outfits.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-must-resist-us-sanctions-through-oil-non-oil-exports-iran-president-rouhani-215895">Iran must resist US sanctions through oil, non-oil exports: Iran President Rouhani</a>

Iran President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday said Iran must counter&nbsp;US sanctions&nbsp;by continuing to export its oil as well as boosting non-oil exports.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-conservatives-look-for-brexit-compromise-after-local-poll-losses-215916">UK Conservatives look for Brexit compromise after local poll losses</a>

Britain's governing Conservatives need to be open to compromise with the opposition Labour Party in order to deliver Brexit following heavy losses in Thursday's local elections, senior ministers said on Saturday.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/54-magnitude-earthquake-hits-parts-of-northeast-india-215915">5.4 magnitude earthquake hits parts of Northeast India</a>

An earthquake measuring&nbsp;5.4 on the Richter Scale hit parts of Northeast India and Myanmar today,&nbsp;India Meteorological Department said.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/king-vajiralongkorn-formally-crowned-rama-x-of-thailand-215813">King Vajiralongkorn formally crowned Thailand's divine monarch, vows to 'reign with righteousness'</a>

King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X of Thailand, was crowned Saturday in a dazzling show of pageantry, laced with Hindu and Buddhist ritual, vowing to reign "with righteousness" on behalf of the Thai people.

&nbsp;

Sri Lanka suicide bombers visited Kashmir, Kerala for 'some sorts of training': Army chief Sri Lanka Army's chief has said that some of the suicide bombers who carried out the country's worst terror attack on Easter Sunday visited Kashmir and Kerala for "some sorts of training" or to "make some more links" with other foreign outfits.

Sri Lanka suicide bombers visited Kashmir, Kerala for 'some sorts of training': Army chief Sri Lanka Army's chief has said that some of the suicide bombers who carried out the country's worst terror attack on Easter Sunday visited Kashmir and Kerala for "some sorts of training" or to "make some more links" with other foreign outfits. Iran must resist US sanctions through oil, non-oil exports: Iran President Rouhani Iran President Hassan Rouhani on Saturday said Iran must counter US sanctions by continuing to export its oil as well as boosting non-oil exports. UK Conservatives look for Brexit compromise after local poll losses Britain's governing Conservatives need to be open to compromise with the opposition Labour Party in order to deliver Brexit following heavy losses in Thursday's local elections, senior ministers said on Saturday. 5.4 magnitude earthquake hits parts of Northeast India An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale hit parts of Northeast India and Myanmar today, India Meteorological Department said. King Vajiralongkorn formally crowned Thailand's divine monarch, vows to 'reign with righteousness' King Maha Vajiralongkorn, Rama X of Thailand, was crowned Saturday in a dazzling show of pageantry, laced with Hindu and Buddhist ritual, vowing to reign "with righteousness" on behalf of the Thai people.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Cyclone 'Fani' barrelled through Odisha on Friday, unleashing copious rain and windstorm that gusted up to 175 kmph, killing at least eight people, blowing away thatched houses, and swamping towns and villages, officials said.

The extremely <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-makes-landfall-in-west-bengal-215767">severe cyclonic storm 'Fani'</a> or the 'Hood of Snake' made landfall around 8 am in Puri, with roaring winds flattening huts, enveloping the pilgrim town in sheets of rain, and submerging homes.

Though the 'extremely severe' cyclone unexpectedly weakened into 'very severe' cyclonic storm in a matter of few hours, it left a trail of devastation in large parts of coastal Odisha, with the seaside pilgrim town of Puri being the worst hit.

At least eight people have been reported dead so far in the state, senior officials said, adding information was still awaited from many areas.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cyclone-fani-and-why-it-is-so-powerful-215425">In pics:&nbsp;Cyclone Fani and why it is so powerful</a>

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.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, held a review meeting with senior officials on the destruction caused by the cyclone in the state.

Speaking to media in Bhubaneshwar after the meeting, Patnaik said in the last 24 hours, over 12 lakh people have been evacuated from vulnerable districts to safer locations.

He also informed, Puri district, particularly the holy town where the cyclone first hit the land mass, suffered huge damage. "Energy infrastructure has been completely destroyed. Restoration of electricity is a challenging task," he said.

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Hundreds of engineers and technicians were working on a war-footing to restore power supply.

Work is on to restore road communication, thrown into disarray with thousands of uprooted trees blocking the way in innumerable places, Patnaik said.

The chief minister said since the cyclone is still passing through Odisha, it will take time to make an assessment of the damage.

The cyclonic system, whose eye is around 28 km wide, moved at around 30 kmph, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas said soon after Fani made the landfall.

But within the system, the winds reached speeds of up to 175 kilometres per hour that gusted up to 200 kmph, leaving in their wake uprooted trees and thatched structures, including in the state capital Bhubaneswar.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Randeep Rana said not many casualties were reported so far as precautionary measures were in place.

The chief minister said nearly 12 lakh people were evacuated and shifted to safer locations within 24 hours ahead of the cyclone from about 10,000 villages and 52 urban agglomerations in probably the largest such exercise at the time of a natural calamity in the country.

The evacuees have been accommodated in over 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed cyclone centres where free cooked food is being served to them, he said.

Telecommunication lines got snapped in several parts of state capital Bhubaneswar and several other areas. Mobile towers were damaged and the power supply was disconnected in many places.

Large-scale damage to thatched and old houses was reported from Puri, Khurda and Cuttack districts, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said.

Summer crops, orchards and plantations also suffered huge damage, he said.

National TV channels showed videos claimed to have been shot by residents of Bhubaneswar where a bus was seen bobbing under the impact of the windstorm before flipping on its side.

A police booth was dragged some 200 ft on a highway by furious winds, while a massive crane alongside a multi-storeyed under-construction building collapsed on a row of empty huts, jolted by the howling storm.

Flight operations at <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bhubaneswar-airports-equipment-significantly-damaged-flight-ops-likely-from-1pm-saturday-govt-215744">Bhubaneswar airport remained suspended</a> on Friday, while Paradip and Gopalpur ports were also closed as a precautionary measure.

Around 220 trains on Howrah-Chennai route have been cancelled keeping in view passengers' safety, an East Coast Railway (ECoR) official said.

As Fani pummelled Odisha, neighbouring West Bengal braced itself for its fury.

The sky was overcast in Kolkata and several other places since Friday morning as rain came in spurts, inundating several parts of the state capital.

Traffic snarls were reported from different places in the city.

Meanwhile, '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-makes-landfall-in-west-bengal-215767">Fani'&nbsp;made landfall in West Bengal this morning</a>, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

The cyclonic story crossed Kharagpur and is likely to continue further in North-East direction with a wind speed of 90 km/hour.

Cyclone 'Fani' barrelled through Odisha on Friday, unleashing copious rain and windstorm that gusted up to 175 kmph, killing at least eight people, blowing away thatched houses, and swamping towns and villages, officials said.

Cyclone 'Fani' barrelled through Odisha on Friday, unleashing copious rain and windstorm that gusted up to 175 kmph, killing at least eight people, blowing away thatched houses, and swamping towns and villages, officials said. The extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' or the 'Hood of Snake' made landfall around 8 am in Puri, with roaring winds flattening huts, enveloping the pilgrim town in sheets of rain, and submerging homes. Though the 'extremely severe' cyclone unexpectedly weakened into 'very severe' cyclonic storm in a matter of few hours, it left a trail of devastation in large parts of coastal Odisha, with the seaside pilgrim town of Puri being the worst hit. At least eight people have been reported dead so far in the state, senior officials said, adding information was still awaited from many areas. In pics: Cyclone Fani and why it is so powerful 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. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, held a review meeting with senior officials on the destruction caused by the cyclone in the state. Speaking to media in Bhubaneshwar after the meeting, Patnaik said in the last 24 hours, over 12 lakh people have been evacuated from vulnerable districts to safer locations. He also informed, Puri district, particularly the holy town where the cyclone first hit the land mass, suffered huge damage. "Energy infrastructure has been completely destroyed. Restoration of electricity is a challenging task," he said. × Hundreds of engineers and technicians were working on a war-footing to restore power supply. Work is on to restore road communication, thrown into disarray with thousands of uprooted trees blocking the way in innumerable places, Patnaik said. The chief minister said since the cyclone is still passing through Odisha, it will take time to make an assessment of the damage. The cyclonic system, whose eye is around 28 km wide, moved at around 30 kmph, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas said soon after Fani made the landfall. But within the system, the winds reached speeds of up to 175 kilometres per hour that gusted up to 200 kmph, leaving in their wake uprooted trees and thatched structures, including in the state capital Bhubaneswar. National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) DIG Randeep Rana said not many casualties were reported so far as precautionary measures were in place. The chief minister said nearly 12 lakh people were evacuated and shifted to safer locations within 24 hours ahead of the cyclone from about 10,000 villages and 52 urban agglomerations in probably the largest such exercise at the time of a natural calamity in the country. The evacuees have been accommodated in over 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed cyclone centres where free cooked food is being served to them, he said. Telecommunication lines got snapped in several parts of state capital Bhubaneswar and several other areas. Mobile towers were damaged and the power supply was disconnected in many places. Large-scale damage to thatched and old houses was reported from Puri, Khurda and Cuttack districts, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said. Summer crops, orchards and plantations also suffered huge damage, he said. National TV channels showed videos claimed to have been shot by residents of Bhubaneswar where a bus was seen bobbing under the impact of the windstorm before flipping on its side. A police booth was dragged some 200 ft on a highway by furious winds, while a massive crane alongside a multi-storeyed under-construction building collapsed on a row of empty huts, jolted by the howling storm. Flight operations at Bhubaneswar airport remained suspended on Friday, while Paradip and Gopalpur ports were also closed as a precautionary measure. Around 220 trains on Howrah-Chennai route have been cancelled keeping in view passengers' safety, an East Coast Railway (ECoR) official said. As Fani pummelled Odisha, neighbouring West Bengal braced itself for its fury. The sky was overcast in Kolkata and several other places since Friday morning as rain came in spurts, inundating several parts of the state capital. Traffic snarls were reported from different places in the city. Meanwhile, 'Fani' made landfall in West Bengal this morning, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. The cyclonic story crossed Kharagpur and is likely to continue further in North-East direction with a wind speed of 90 km/hour.

Cyclone Fani: 8 people dead in Odisha, CM Naveen Patnaik holds review meeting

According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (ODRR).The Indian government's "zero casualty" policy for cyclones and the accuracy of the IMD's early warning system have helped reduce the possibility of deaths from cyclone Fani.

Cyclone Fani: UN agency praises India's zero casualty policy

An earthquake measuring&nbsp;5.4 on the Richter Scale hit parts of Northeast India and Myanmar today,&nbsp;India Meteorological Department said.

The tremors were felt around the Myanmar-India (Nagaland) Border Region&nbsp;at around 4:33 pm.

No casualties have been reported so far.

This is a developing story. More details awaited.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale hit parts of Northeast India and Myanmar today, India Meteorological Department said. The tremors were felt around the Myanmar-India (Nagaland) Border Region at around 4:33 pm.

An earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale hit parts of Northeast India and Myanmar today, India Meteorological Department said. The tremors were felt around the Myanmar-India (Nagaland) Border Region at around 4:33 pm. No casualties have been reported so far. This is a developing story. More details awaited.

5.4 magnitude earthquake hits parts of Northeast India

The UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), which works towards the substantial reduction of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-makes-landfall-in-west-bengal-215767">disaster risk </a>and losses to ensure a sustainable future, &nbsp;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 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cyclone-fani-and-why-it-is-so-powerful-215425">loss of life</a>...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.

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.&nbsp;

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.

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.

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. 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.

Cyclone Fani: United Nations lauds India Meteorological Department

Days&nbsp;after an Independent candidate raised objections over<a href="https://www.wionews.com/elections/politicians/rahul-gandhi"> Congress president Rahul Gandhi</a>'s nomination citing "alleging discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in his election affidavit", the Amethi returning officer on Monday declared that the Congress president's nomination was valid.

Defending Gandhi his lawyer KC Kaushik said that Rahul was born in India and he holds an Indian passport.

"<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/criminal-complaint-filed-against-rahul-gandhi-for-making-allegedly-derogatory-remarks-on-pm-modi-211455">Rahul Gandhi </a>was born in India and he holds an Indian passport, he never took citizenship of any other country. His passport, Voter-ID, and his income tax, everything is of India".

Speaking on the objections raised on Rahul Gandhi's educational qualification Kaushik said he does not know who <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rahul-gandhi-known-as-raul-vinci-in-britain-italy-yogi-adityanath-212438">Raul Vinci</a> was and where he came from.

"I don't know who Raul Vinci is or where he came from. Rahul Gandhi had done his M.Phil in 1995 from University of Cambridge, I have attached a copy of the certificate, ".

An independent candidate on Saturday raised objections over Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s nomination from Amethi, alleging discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in his election affidavit.

Complainant Dhruv Raj’s lawyer Ravi Prakash showed reporters purported copies of a certificate of incorporation of a UK-registered company in which the Congress leader is stated to be a British national.

Citing the complaint, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson G.V.L Narasimha Rao demanded that Mr. Gandhi come clean on the matter.

Days after an Independent candidate raised objections over Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination citing "alleging discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in his election affidavit", the Amethi returning officer on Monday declared that the Congress president's nomination was valid.

Days after an Independent candidate raised objections over Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination citing "alleging discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in his election affidavit", the Amethi returning officer on Monday declared that the Congress president's nomination was valid. Defending Gandhi his lawyer KC Kaushik said that Rahul was born in India and he holds an Indian passport. "Rahul Gandhi was born in India and he holds an Indian passport, he never took citizenship of any other country. His passport, Voter-ID, and his income tax, everything is of India". Speaking on the objections raised on Rahul Gandhi's educational qualification Kaushik said he does not know who Raul Vinci was and where he came from. "I don't know who Raul Vinci is or where he came from. Rahul Gandhi had done his M.Phil in 1995 from University of Cambridge, I have attached a copy of the certificate, ". An independent candidate on Saturday raised objections over Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s nomination from Amethi, alleging discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in his election affidavit. Complainant Dhruv Raj’s lawyer Ravi Prakash showed reporters purported copies of a certificate of incorporation of a UK-registered company in which the Congress leader is stated to be a British national. Citing the complaint, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson G.V.L Narasimha Rao demanded that Mr. Gandhi come clean on the matter.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi's nomination is valid: Amethi returning officer

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/un-agency-praises-india-on-minimising-loss-of-life-from-cyclone-fani-215838">Cyclone Fani</a>, one of the biggest to hit India in years, barrelled into Bangladesh on Saturday after leaving a trail of deadly destruction in India.

Thanks to mass evacuations well ahead of time though, a major human disaster of the kind seen in previous cyclones <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/un-agency-praises-india-on-minimising-loss-of-life-from-cyclone-fani-215838">looked to have been averted</a>.

Bangladeshi police said nine people perished even before the eye of the storm crossed the border on Saturday morning. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-bites-odisha-eight-dead-naveen-patnaik-holds-review-meeting-215768">Eight others died in India</a>, press reports said, although officials could not confirm this.&nbsp;

More than 1.6 million people have been taken to shelters, Bangladeshi officials told AFP, with at least 36 villages flooded after a storm surge breached embankments in coastal areas.

The dead included a minor in Barguna district on the coast and five others killed by lightning in the northern district of Kishoreganj.

"At least 63 people were also injured," Shaheen Sultana, a disaster ministry official, told AFP, with more than 2,000 houses destroyed.

"We are mooring our boat because it's the only means of income for us. Only Allah knows when we can go back to fishing again," Akbar Ali, a fisherman near the town of Dacope in Bangladesh, told AFP while battling surging waves to tie his boat to a tree.

With the storm weakening into a deep depression but still packing a punch, winds of up to 70 kilometres (45 miles) per hour and heavy rain battered overnight and on Saturday morning the Indian state of West Bengal and its capital Kolkata, including the Sundarbans mangrove forest area.

"It's a total mess in islands of the Sunderbans as the cyclone has destroyed everything in its path, fuelling fears rivers could burst their banks and leave vast areas underwater," said Manturam Pakhira, Sunderbans affairs minister.

"Several homes have been flattened, roofs blown off, electric poles and trees toppled."

Several hundred thousand people were told to evacuate coastal areas of West Bengal before the arrival of Fani ("snake" in Bengali), with 5,000 leaving the low-lying areas and old, dilapidated buildings of Kolkata, home to 4.6 million people.

"Nearly a dozen people were trapped as an old building in the northern part of the city has collapsed," mayor Firhad Hakim said. "They have been rescued and shifted to a safer place."

India averted major human disaster

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that on Monday he would visit Odisha where Fani made landfall on Friday, packing winds gusting up to 200 kilometres (125 miles) an hour, sending coconut trees flying, knocking down power lines and cutting off water and telecommunications.&nbsp;

Eight people were killed in Odisha, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported, including a teenage boy crushed under a tree and a woman hit by concrete debris.

Unable to confirm the death toll, Odisha disaster management official Prabhat Mahapatra told AFP there were about 160 people injured in Puri alone.

"It just went dark and then suddenly we could barely see five metres in front of us," said one Puri resident. "The wind is deafening."

PTI reported that a construction crane collapsed and that a police booth was dragged 60 metres by the wind. Electricity pylons were down, tin roofs were ripped off and windows on many buildings were smashed.

'Fani'&nbsp;weakens in West Bengal&nbsp;

Meanwhile, 'Fani' has now weakened into a deep depression and lay centred over Bangladesh and expected to weaken further into a depression.

"The CS 'FANI' over Gangetic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-makes-landfall-in-west-bengal-215767">West Bengal</a> moved further east-northeastwards and weakened into a Deep Depression, lay centred at 08.30 hrs IST over Bangladesh near lat 23.6degN and long 88.8degE. It is very likely to move northeastwards, weaken further into a depression during next 06 hrs," tweeted India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Rain lashed Kolkata as cyclone Fani hit West Bengal by crossing Kharagpur earlier on Saturday. Trees were uprooted in towns in coastal West Bengal including Digha, Mandarmani, Tajpur, Sandehskhali and Contai as the storm surge forward.

After crossing Kharagpur, it moved further in North-East direction with approximately a wind speed of 90 km/hour. NDRF personnel were clearing the uprooted trees from the road at Digha and other places.

"Cyclone Fani has weakened and is covering areas of West Bengal in the form of the cyclone. It is further moving towards Bangladesh. The situation is under control and there is not much damaging effect. 9 teams of NDRF are present in West Bengal," said Randeep Kumar Rana, DIG Operations, NDRF.

&nbsp;

Cyclone Fani, one of the biggest to hit India in years, barrelled into Bangladesh on Saturday after leaving a trail of deadly destruction in India. Thanks to mass evacuations well ahead of time though, a major human disaster of the kind seen in previous cyclones looked to have been averted.

Cyclone Fani, one of the biggest to hit India in years, barrelled into Bangladesh on Saturday after leaving a trail of deadly destruction in India. Thanks to mass evacuations well ahead of time though, a major human disaster of the kind seen in previous cyclones looked to have been averted. Bangladeshi police said nine people perished even before the eye of the storm crossed the border on Saturday morning. Eight others died in India, press reports said, although officials could not confirm this. More than 1.6 million people have been taken to shelters, Bangladeshi officials told AFP, with at least 36 villages flooded after a storm surge breached embankments in coastal areas. The dead included a minor in Barguna district on the coast and five others killed by lightning in the northern district of Kishoreganj. "At least 63 people were also injured," Shaheen Sultana, a disaster ministry official, told AFP, with more than 2,000 houses destroyed. "We are mooring our boat because it's the only means of income for us. Only Allah knows when we can go back to fishing again," Akbar Ali, a fisherman near the town of Dacope in Bangladesh, told AFP while battling surging waves to tie his boat to a tree. With the storm weakening into a deep depression but still packing a punch, winds of up to 70 kilometres (45 miles) per hour and heavy rain battered overnight and on Saturday morning the Indian state of West Bengal and its capital Kolkata, including the Sundarbans mangrove forest area. "It's a total mess in islands of the Sunderbans as the cyclone has destroyed everything in its path, fuelling fears rivers could burst their banks and leave vast areas underwater," said Manturam Pakhira, Sunderbans affairs minister. "Several homes have been flattened, roofs blown off, electric poles and trees toppled." Several hundred thousand people were told to evacuate coastal areas of West Bengal before the arrival of Fani ("snake" in Bengali), with 5,000 leaving the low-lying areas and old, dilapidated buildings of Kolkata, home to 4.6 million people. "Nearly a dozen people were trapped as an old building in the northern part of the city has collapsed," mayor Firhad Hakim said. "They have been rescued and shifted to a safer place." India averted major human disaster Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that on Monday he would visit Odisha where Fani made landfall on Friday, packing winds gusting up to 200 kilometres (125 miles) an hour, sending coconut trees flying, knocking down power lines and cutting off water and telecommunications. Eight people were killed in Odisha, the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported, including a teenage boy crushed under a tree and a woman hit by concrete debris. Unable to confirm the death toll, Odisha disaster management official Prabhat Mahapatra told AFP there were about 160 people injured in Puri alone. "It just went dark and then suddenly we could barely see five metres in front of us," said one Puri resident. "The wind is deafening." PTI reported that a construction crane collapsed and that a police booth was dragged 60 metres by the wind. Electricity pylons were down, tin roofs were ripped off and windows on many buildings were smashed. 'Fani' weakens in West Bengal Meanwhile, 'Fani' has now weakened into a deep depression and lay centred over Bangladesh and expected to weaken further into a depression. "The CS 'FANI' over Gangetic West Bengal moved further east-northeastwards and weakened into a Deep Depression, lay centred at 08.30 hrs IST over Bangladesh near lat 23.6degN and long 88.8degE. It is very likely to move northeastwards, weaken further into a depression during next 06 hrs," tweeted India Meteorological Department (IMD). Rain lashed Kolkata as cyclone Fani hit West Bengal by crossing Kharagpur earlier on Saturday. Trees were uprooted in towns in coastal West Bengal including Digha, Mandarmani, Tajpur, Sandehskhali and Contai as the storm surge forward. After crossing Kharagpur, it moved further in North-East direction with approximately a wind speed of 90 km/hour. NDRF personnel were clearing the uprooted trees from the road at Digha and other places. "Cyclone Fani has weakened and is covering areas of West Bengal in the form of the cyclone. It is further moving towards Bangladesh. The situation is under control and there is not much damaging effect. 9 teams of NDRF are present in West Bengal," said Randeep Kumar Rana, DIG Operations, NDRF.

Cyclone Fani barrels into Bangladesh, at least 9 dead

Cyclone Fani leaves 12 dead in Odisha, relief work underway. Watch the full video to know more.

13 dead as Cyclone Fani hits Odisha

The Patiala House court on Saturday deferred the cross-examination of the former Union Minister MJ Akbar till May 20 in connection with a defamation case filed by him against journalist Priya Ramani after she complained of sexual misconduct.

MJ Akbar was partly cross-examined today by senior advocate Rebecca John appearing on the behalf of Priya Ramani.

The next hearing will be held before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Samar Vishal. Ramani and other senior journalists were also present during the hearing. Geeta Luthra appeared on behalf of MJ Akbar in court today.

During the course of hearing, MJ Akbar contended that the allegations made by Ramani "maligned" his reputation.

"I filed a criminal defamation complaint against a tweet that Priya Ramani issued last year in October. The tweet was based on an article that the accused had written in Vogue in 2017. The language used in her tweet was deeply offensive and a web of the fabricated lies."

He also asserted that he has a "clean history", to which, Rebecca asked him about the "ideological and political u-turns" Akbar took during his career as a politician."Were you not associated with Congress in 1989 and shifted your loyalty in 2014 when you joined BJP?" she asked.

She also counter-questioned him on the allegations of sexual misconduct levied by Ramani. He, however, negated the claim that he had invited her at Oberoi hotel in December 1993 on the pretext of a job interview.

Speaking to media persons after the hearing, senior advocate Rebecca John said, "It is not the story of Priya but countless other women who have been sexually assaulted by Akbar. We want to make it clear that women no longer accept sexual harassment at the workplace. I hope it comes out in the testimonies of various witnesses we will produce. In the end, we hope that the judge acquits her."

Ramani had on April 10 pleaded not guilty before the court and claimed trial after the court framed defamation charges against her on a criminal complaint of Akbar.

In the last hearing, ACMM Vishal had also granted a permanent exemption to Ramani from personal appearance in the hearings to follow.

In February, Ramani was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000. Ramani was the first woman to accuse Akbar of sexual harassment during the #MeToo campaign.

Akbar, the former Minister of State for External Affairs, had filed a defamation case against the journalist for accusing him of sexual misconduct.

The allegations levelled against him forced him to resign from the Union Cabinet on October 17, 2018.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Patiala House court on Saturday deferred the cross-examination of the former Union Minister MJ Akbar till May 20 in connection with a defamation case filed by him against journalist Priya Ramani after she complained of sexual misconduct.

The Patiala House court on Saturday deferred the cross-examination of the former Union Minister MJ Akbar till May 20 in connection with a defamation case filed by him against journalist Priya Ramani after she complained of sexual misconduct. MJ Akbar was partly cross-examined today by senior advocate Rebecca John appearing on the behalf of Priya Ramani. The next hearing will be held before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) Samar Vishal. Ramani and other senior journalists were also present during the hearing. Geeta Luthra appeared on behalf of MJ Akbar in court today. During the course of hearing, MJ Akbar contended that the allegations made by Ramani "maligned" his reputation. "I filed a criminal defamation complaint against a tweet that Priya Ramani issued last year in October. The tweet was based on an article that the accused had written in Vogue in 2017. The language used in her tweet was deeply offensive and a web of the fabricated lies." He also asserted that he has a "clean history", to which, Rebecca asked him about the "ideological and political u-turns" Akbar took during his career as a politician."Were you not associated with Congress in 1989 and shifted your loyalty in 2014 when you joined BJP?" she asked. She also counter-questioned him on the allegations of sexual misconduct levied by Ramani. He, however, negated the claim that he had invited her at Oberoi hotel in December 1993 on the pretext of a job interview. Speaking to media persons after the hearing, senior advocate Rebecca John said, "It is not the story of Priya but countless other women who have been sexually assaulted by Akbar. We want to make it clear that women no longer accept sexual harassment at the workplace. I hope it comes out in the testimonies of various witnesses we will produce. In the end, we hope that the judge acquits her." Ramani had on April 10 pleaded not guilty before the court and claimed trial after the court framed defamation charges against her on a criminal complaint of Akbar. In the last hearing, ACMM Vishal had also granted a permanent exemption to Ramani from personal appearance in the hearings to follow. In February, Ramani was granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000. Ramani was the first woman to accuse Akbar of sexual harassment during the #MeToo campaign. Akbar, the former Minister of State for External Affairs, had filed a defamation case against the journalist for accusing him of sexual misconduct. The allegations levelled against him forced him to resign from the Union Cabinet on October 17, 2018.

MJ Akbar defamation case: Court defers cross-examination till May 20

Today is the Last Day of campaigning for Phase 5 of Lok Sabha Polls. Watch the full video to know more.

Last Day of campaigning for Phase 5 of Lok Sabha Polls today

The severe cyclonic storm Fani entered West Bengal through Odisha's Balasore which led to heavy rainfall in the state. \Watch full video to know more.

Cyclone Fani hits West Bengal triggering strong winds and heavy rainfall

India has not shown an inclination to pursue a deeper defence relationship with Afghanistan even as it has been the largest regional contributor to the war-torn country's reconstruction, according to a US Congressional report.

US President Donald Trump in his South Asia speech in 2017 encouraged India to play a greater role in Afghanistan's economic development, the latest report on Afghanistan by the independent Congressional Research Service (CRS) said.

"India has been the largest regional contributor to Afghan reconstruction but New Delhi has not shown an inclination to pursue a deeper defence relationship with Kabul," according to the report dated May 1.

"This, along with other administration messaging, has compounded Pakistani concerns over Indian activity in Afghanistan," said the bipartisan research wing of the US Congress which prepares period reports on issues of interest for the members of the Congress.

CRS reports are prepared for US lawmakers to take informed decisions. These are not an official report of the US Congress.

Regional dynamics and the involvement of outside powers are central to the conflict in Afghanistan, it said.

The neighbouring state widely considered most important in this regard is Pakistan, which has played an active, and by many accounts negative role in Afghan affairs for decades, the CRS report said.

The CRS report said that Trump has directly accused Pakistan of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting".

Afghan leaders, along with US military commanders, attribute much of the insurgency's power and longevity either directly or indirectly to Pakistan.

Experts debate the extent to which Pakistan is committed to Afghan stability or is attempting to exert control in Afghanistan through ties to insurgent groups, most notably the Haqqani Network, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that has become an official, semiautonomous component of the Taliban, it said.

US officials have repeatedly identified militant safe havens in Pakistan as a threat to security in Afghanistan, though some observers question the validity of that charge in light of the Taliban's increased territorial control within Afghanistan itself.

Pakistan, it said, may view a weak and destabilised Afghanistan as preferable to a strong, unified Afghan state (particularly one led by a Pashtun-dominated government in Kabul; Pakistan has a large and restive Pashtun minority).

However, at least some Pakistani leaders have stated that instability in Afghanistan could rebound to Pakistan's detriment; Pakistan has struggled with indigenous Islamist militants of its own, it said.

"Pakistan sees Afghanistan as potentially providing strategic depth against India, but may also anticipate that improved relations with Afghanistan's leadership could limit India's influence in Afghanistan.

"Indian interest in Afghanistan stems largely from India's broader regional rivalry with Pakistan, which impedes Indian efforts to establish stronger and more direct commercial and political relations with Central Asia," the CRS report added.&nbsp;

India has not shown an inclination to pursue a deeper defence relationship with Afghanistan even as it has been the largest regional contributor to the war-torn country's reconstruction, according to a US Congressional report.

India has not shown an inclination to pursue a deeper defence relationship with Afghanistan even as it has been the largest regional contributor to the war-torn country's reconstruction, according to a US Congressional report. US President Donald Trump in his South Asia speech in 2017 encouraged India to play a greater role in Afghanistan's economic development, the latest report on Afghanistan by the independent Congressional Research Service (CRS) said. "India has been the largest regional contributor to Afghan reconstruction but New Delhi has not shown an inclination to pursue a deeper defence relationship with Kabul," according to the report dated May 1. "This, along with other administration messaging, has compounded Pakistani concerns over Indian activity in Afghanistan," said the bipartisan research wing of the US Congress which prepares period reports on issues of interest for the members of the Congress. CRS reports are prepared for US lawmakers to take informed decisions. These are not an official report of the US Congress. Regional dynamics and the involvement of outside powers are central to the conflict in Afghanistan, it said. The neighbouring state widely considered most important in this regard is Pakistan, which has played an active, and by many accounts negative role in Afghan affairs for decades, the CRS report said. The CRS report said that Trump has directly accused Pakistan of "housing the very terrorists that we are fighting". Afghan leaders, along with US military commanders, attribute much of the insurgency's power and longevity either directly or indirectly to Pakistan. Experts debate the extent to which Pakistan is committed to Afghan stability or is attempting to exert control in Afghanistan through ties to insurgent groups, most notably the Haqqani Network, a US-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) that has become an official, semiautonomous component of the Taliban, it said. US officials have repeatedly identified militant safe havens in Pakistan as a threat to security in Afghanistan, though some observers question the validity of that charge in light of the Taliban's increased territorial control within Afghanistan itself. Pakistan, it said, may view a weak and destabilised Afghanistan as preferable to a strong, unified Afghan state (particularly one led by a Pashtun-dominated government in Kabul; Pakistan has a large and restive Pashtun minority). However, at least some Pakistani leaders have stated that instability in Afghanistan could rebound to Pakistan's detriment; Pakistan has struggled with indigenous Islamist militants of its own, it said. "Pakistan sees Afghanistan as potentially providing strategic depth against India, but may also anticipate that improved relations with Afghanistan's leadership could limit India's influence in Afghanistan. "Indian interest in Afghanistan stems largely from India's broader regional rivalry with Pakistan, which impedes Indian efforts to establish stronger and more direct commercial and political relations with Central Asia," the CRS report added.

India hasn't shown inclination to pursue deeper defence ties with Afghanistan: US report 

Air India on Saturday announces the recommencement of operation from 9.45 am at Kolkata Airport.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered the cancellation of all flights to and from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports due to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-makes-landfall-in-west-bengal-215767">cyclone Fani</a> on Thursday.

The National carrier also stepped forward to help residents of Odisha affected by the cyclone Fani and has decided to ship free of cost relief material to cyclone-affected areas by any NGO/ Civil society/ Self Help Group etc.

After wreaking havoc at the Puri, Bhubaneswar and other parts in Odisha on Friday, cyclonic storm Fani made landfall in West Bengal early on Saturday. Rain lashed Kolkata and other coastal towns in West Bengal.

According to IMD the cyclone will weaken and move into Bangladesh by noon. "Severe Cyclone FANI weakened into a Cyclonic Storm and lay centred at 60 km NW of Kolkata at 0530 IST of 4th May. To weaken into Deep Depression and move into Bangladesh by noon," tweeted IMD.&nbsp;

Air India on Saturday announces the recommencement of operation from 9.45 am at Kolkata Airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered the cancellation of all flights to and from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports due to cyclone Fani on Thursday.

Air India on Saturday announces the recommencement of operation from 9.45 am at Kolkata Airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) ordered the cancellation of all flights to and from Bhubaneswar and Kolkata airports due to cyclone Fani on Thursday. The National carrier also stepped forward to help residents of Odisha affected by the cyclone Fani and has decided to ship free of cost relief material to cyclone-affected areas by any NGO/ Civil society/ Self Help Group etc. After wreaking havoc at the Puri, Bhubaneswar and other parts in Odisha on Friday, cyclonic storm Fani made landfall in West Bengal early on Saturday. Rain lashed Kolkata and other coastal towns in West Bengal. According to IMD the cyclone will weaken and move into Bangladesh by noon. "Severe Cyclone FANI weakened into a Cyclonic Storm and lay centred at 60 km NW of Kolkata at 0530 IST of 4th May. To weaken into Deep Depression and move into Bangladesh by noon," tweeted IMD.

Cyclone Fani: Air India resumes operation at Kolkata Airport

Cyclonic storm Fani, which <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-three-killed-heavy-rainfall-predicted-in-odisha-ap-bengal-northeast-215661">wreaked havoc in Odisha</a>, has made landfall in West Bengal, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/fani-heading-towards-west-bengal-rain-lashes-city-215652">cyclonic story crossed Kharagpur</a> and is likely to continue further in North-East direction with a wind speed of 90 km/hour.

Heavy rains along with a wind speed of 175 kmph battered Odisha as cyclone Fani made landfall close to the temple town of Puri on Friday morning, leaving a trail of destruction in the state.

The impact of the "extremely severe cyclonic storm" was felt in neighbouring West Bengal including in the beach town of Digha and other areas.

The cyclone, which crossed Odisha coast close to Puri coast between 8 am and 10 am&nbsp;with a maximum wind speed of around 175 Kmph, caused "huge damage" in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Khordha districts in the state.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/cyclone-fani-and-why-it-is-so-powerful-215425">In pics:&nbsp;Cyclone Fani and why it is so powerful</a>

Late on Friday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a review meeting with the chief secretary as well as senior officers of the state.

Patnaik, while briefing media after the meeting, said over 12 lakh people had been evacuated in 24 hours to safer locations in the state. He also mentioned that officials would take stock of the situation at length once the cyclonic storm crosses Odisha.

According to the IMD, Fani has moved north-northeastwards at 20 kmph in the last six hours and weakened into a "severe cyclonic storm".

"It lay centred at 08:30 pm over coastal Odisha about 110 kilometre southwest of Midnapore in West Bengal, 80 kilometre southwest of Digha and 210 kilometre southwest of Kolkata," said a statement issued by the IMD.

"It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards during next 12 hours and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 105 kmph by the early morning of May 4," it added.

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Cyclonic storm Fani, which wreaked havoc in Odisha, has made landfall in West Bengal, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. The cyclonic story crossed Kharagpur and is likely to continue further in North-East direction with a wind speed of 90 km/hour.

Cyclonic storm Fani, which wreaked havoc in Odisha, has made landfall in West Bengal, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday. The cyclonic story crossed Kharagpur and is likely to continue further in North-East direction with a wind speed of 90 km/hour. Heavy rains along with a wind speed of 175 kmph battered Odisha as cyclone Fani made landfall close to the temple town of Puri on Friday morning, leaving a trail of destruction in the state. The impact of the "extremely severe cyclonic storm" was felt in neighbouring West Bengal including in the beach town of Digha and other areas. The cyclone, which crossed Odisha coast close to Puri coast between 8 am and 10 am with a maximum wind speed of around 175 Kmph, caused "huge damage" in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Khordha districts in the state. In pics: Cyclone Fani and why it is so powerful Late on Friday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik chaired a review meeting with the chief secretary as well as senior officers of the state. Patnaik, while briefing media after the meeting, said over 12 lakh people had been evacuated in 24 hours to safer locations in the state. He also mentioned that officials would take stock of the situation at length once the cyclonic storm crosses Odisha. According to the IMD, Fani has moved north-northeastwards at 20 kmph in the last six hours and weakened into a "severe cyclonic storm". "It lay centred at 08:30 pm over coastal Odisha about 110 kilometre southwest of Midnapore in West Bengal, 80 kilometre southwest of Digha and 210 kilometre southwest of Kolkata," said a statement issued by the IMD. "It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards during next 12 hours and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 105 kmph by the early morning of May 4," it added. ×

After wreaking havoc in Odisha, cyclone Fani makes landfall in West Bengal

The UN agency for disaster reduction has commended the Indian Meteorological Department's "almost pinpoint accuracy" of early warnings that helped authorities conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan and minimise the loss of life as extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall near the coastal city of Puri.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-makes-landfall-in-west-bengal-215767">The powerful cyclone</a>, strongest to hit India in 20 years, made landfall at around 8 AM in India's eastern state of Odisha, killing at least eight people.

Large areas in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri and other places were submerged as heavy rains battered the entire coastal belt of the state affecting about 11 lakh people. 
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has classified Fani as an "extremely severe cyclonic storm".

UN agencies are monitoring Fani's movements closely and taking measures to protect families living in refugee camps in Bangladesh, which is on alert.

The Cyclone lashed the coast with maximum wind speeds of up to 175 kilometres per hour, heavy rainfall and coastal flooding, with 28 million people living along the route of the massive storm.

"India's zero casualty approach to managing extreme weather events is a major contribution to the implementation of the #SendaiFramework and the reduction of loss of life from such events," Mami Mizutori, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the Geneva-based UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), said.

Mizutori was referring to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda.

It is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognises that the state has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including the local government, the private sector and other stakeholders.

Highlighting the zero-casualty cyclone preparedness policy of the Indian government, a spokesperson for UNISDR, Denis McClean said, "the almost pinpoint accuracy of the early warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department had enabled the authorities to conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan, which had involved moving more than one million people into storm shelters".

UNISDR also tweeted about the advisory distributed by India's National Disaster Management Authority and local authorities days before Fani made landfall in an effort to minimise loss of life and injury.

Local authorities are accommodating evacuees in over 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed to withstand cyclones.

"Schools were shut, airports closed and transport suspended, and although damage to infrastructure was expected to be severe, there were no reports of any deaths," McClean said.

According to preliminary reports, eight people have been killed due to the cyclone, which has the potential to cause widespread loss of life.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson St?phane Dujarric told reporters that the UN humanitarian agencies in India have met ahead of the storm's arrival to take stock of preparedness measures.

With Fani threatening devastation in India and Mozambique still reeling from Cyclone Idai, one of the worst tropical cyclones, UNICEF raised alarm about impact of climate change on children.

The UN children's agency said the cyclone currently hammering India and the back-to-back cyclones that tore through Mozambique in March and April have caused serious damage to the lives of thousands of children. They should be an urgent wake-up call to world leaders on the serious risks that extreme weather events pose to the lives of children.

In Odisha, 28 million people, including 10 million children, are in the path of Cyclone Fani, UNICEF said.

"Children will bear the brunt of these disasters," said Gautam Narasimhan, UNICEF Senior Adviser on Climate Change.

He said climate change is linked to rising sea levels and the increase in rainfall associated with cyclones, causing more devastation in coastal but also inland areas.

"In the short term, the most vulnerable children are at the risk of drowning and landslides, deadly diseases including cholera and malaria, malnutrition from reduced agricultural production, and psychological trauma ? all of which are compounded when health centres and schools are impacted," he said.

Narasimhan warned that in the long term, cycles of poverty can linger for years and limit the capacity of families and communities to adapt to climate change and to reduce the risk of disasters.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the forecast on Friday was that Cyclone Fani "would move north-northeast towards Bangladesh where there were concerns about the effects of potential coastal flooding".

World Meteorological Organization spokesperson Clare Nullis said the impact the cyclone is expected to be less severe in areas such as Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar which is home to the world's largest refugee camp, populated mainly by Rohingyas who have fled Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, said its India arm Americares India is preparing to deliver medicine and relief supplies to assist survivors, including tarps, water cans and water purification tablets for up to 3,000 families.

Americares India Managing Director Shripad Desai said, "We anticipate thousands of families will need shelter and medical care in the coming days".&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The UN agency for disaster reduction has commended the Indian Meteorological Department's "almost pinpoint accuracy" of early warnings that helped authorities conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan and minimise the loss of life as extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall near the coastal city of Puri.

The UN agency for disaster reduction has commended the Indian Meteorological Department's "almost pinpoint accuracy" of early warnings that helped authorities conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan and minimise the loss of life as extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall near the coastal city of Puri. The powerful cyclone, strongest to hit India in 20 years, made landfall at around 8 AM in India's eastern state of Odisha, killing at least eight people. Large areas in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri and other places were submerged as heavy rains battered the entire coastal belt of the state affecting about 11 lakh people. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has classified Fani as an "extremely severe cyclonic storm". UN agencies are monitoring Fani's movements closely and taking measures to protect families living in refugee camps in Bangladesh, which is on alert. The Cyclone lashed the coast with maximum wind speeds of up to 175 kilometres per hour, heavy rainfall and coastal flooding, with 28 million people living along the route of the massive storm. "India's zero casualty approach to managing extreme weather events is a major contribution to the implementation of the #SendaiFramework and the reduction of loss of life from such events," Mami Mizutori, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the Geneva-based UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR), said. Mizutori was referring to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the first major agreement of the post-2015 development agenda. It is a 15-year, voluntary, non-binding agreement which recognises that the state has the primary role to reduce disaster risk but that responsibility should be shared with other stakeholders including the local government, the private sector and other stakeholders. Highlighting the zero-casualty cyclone preparedness policy of the Indian government, a spokesperson for UNISDR, Denis McClean said, "the almost pinpoint accuracy of the early warnings from the Indian Meteorological Department had enabled the authorities to conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan, which had involved moving more than one million people into storm shelters". UNISDR also tweeted about the advisory distributed by India's National Disaster Management Authority and local authorities days before Fani made landfall in an effort to minimise loss of life and injury. Local authorities are accommodating evacuees in over 4,000 shelters, including 880 specially designed to withstand cyclones. "Schools were shut, airports closed and transport suspended, and although damage to infrastructure was expected to be severe, there were no reports of any deaths," McClean said. According to preliminary reports, eight people have been killed due to the cyclone, which has the potential to cause widespread loss of life. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' spokesperson St?phane Dujarric told reporters that the UN humanitarian agencies in India have met ahead of the storm's arrival to take stock of preparedness measures. With Fani threatening devastation in India and Mozambique still reeling from Cyclone Idai, one of the worst tropical cyclones, UNICEF raised alarm about impact of climate change on children. The UN children's agency said the cyclone currently hammering India and the back-to-back cyclones that tore through Mozambique in March and April have caused serious damage to the lives of thousands of children. They should be an urgent wake-up call to world leaders on the serious risks that extreme weather events pose to the lives of children. In Odisha, 28 million people, including 10 million children, are in the path of Cyclone Fani, UNICEF said. "Children will bear the brunt of these disasters," said Gautam Narasimhan, UNICEF Senior Adviser on Climate Change. He said climate change is linked to rising sea levels and the increase in rainfall associated with cyclones, causing more devastation in coastal but also inland areas. "In the short term, the most vulnerable children are at the risk of drowning and landslides, deadly diseases including cholera and malaria, malnutrition from reduced agricultural production, and psychological trauma ? all of which are compounded when health centres and schools are impacted," he said. Narasimhan warned that in the long term, cycles of poverty can linger for years and limit the capacity of families and communities to adapt to climate change and to reduce the risk of disasters. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the forecast on Friday was that Cyclone Fani "would move north-northeast towards Bangladesh where there were concerns about the effects of potential coastal flooding". World Meteorological Organization spokesperson Clare Nullis said the impact the cyclone is expected to be less severe in areas such as Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar which is home to the world's largest refugee camp, populated mainly by Rohingyas who have fled Myanmar. Meanwhile, Americares, a health-focused relief and development organization, said its India arm Americares India is preparing to deliver medicine and relief supplies to assist survivors, including tarps, water cans and water purification tablets for up to 3,000 families. Americares India Managing Director Shripad Desai said, "We anticipate thousands of families will need shelter and medical care in the coming days".

UN agency praises India on minimising loss of life from Cyclone Fani

A Boeing 737 jet carrying 136 people on board, slid into a river in Florida after shooting off the runway. Watch the full video to know more.

Boeing 737 jet skids off runway into St. Johns river in Florida

Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Odisha on May 6 to take stock of the situation arising in the wake of Cyclone Fani. Watch the full video to know more.

PM Modi to visit Odisha on May 6 to take stock of the situation

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir killed three terrorists during an encounter on Friday which erupted in the wee hours after specific inputs about their presence in Imam Sahab area of restive Shopian district in south Kashmir.&nbsp;

Sources told WION that a search operation was launched by a joint team of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, a counter-insurgency forces of the Indian army, Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF. Soon an exchange of fire broke out in which one army man also sustained injuries.&nbsp;

The sources added that top Hizbul-Mujahideen commander and the last surviving terrorists of the former commander Burhan Wani group, Latief Tiger, was among the killed in the encounter. Apart from him, sources say two other terrorists were also killed including Tariq Moulvi. However, there was no confirmation from the forces about their identity.

The clashes have erupted around the encounter spot between protestors and security forces after the encounter broke out. Mobile internet, train service between Srinagar-Banihal will also remain shut given the situation.&nbsp;

The last leg of Anantnag Lok Sabha election is scheduled to be held in the district on Monday and the encounter has made the situation difficult for the administration. The Election Commission had decided to hold elections in three phases for the one seat, in a first since the independence of India, given the fragile situation in south Kashmir.&nbsp;

All the terrorists who appeared with Hizbul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a group picture that was circulated in 2015 on social media have been killed by forces now. One among them, Tariq Pandit was captured alive by the security forces earlier in 2016.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir killed three terrorists during an encounter on Friday which erupted in the wee hours after specific inputs about their presence in Imam Sahab area of restive Shopian district in south Kashmir.

Security forces in Jammu and Kashmir killed three terrorists during an encounter on Friday which erupted in the wee hours after specific inputs about their presence in Imam Sahab area of restive Shopian district in south Kashmir. Sources told WION that a search operation was launched by a joint team of 34 Rashtriya Rifles, a counter-insurgency forces of the Indian army, Jammu and Kashmir police and CRPF. Soon an exchange of fire broke out in which one army man also sustained injuries. The sources added that top Hizbul-Mujahideen commander and the last surviving terrorists of the former commander Burhan Wani group, Latief Tiger, was among the killed in the encounter. Apart from him, sources say two other terrorists were also killed including Tariq Moulvi. However, there was no confirmation from the forces about their identity. The clashes have erupted around the encounter spot between protestors and security forces after the encounter broke out. Mobile internet, train service between Srinagar-Banihal will also remain shut given the situation. The last leg of Anantnag Lok Sabha election is scheduled to be held in the district on Monday and the encounter has made the situation difficult for the administration. The Election Commission had decided to hold elections in three phases for the one seat, in a first since the independence of India, given the fragile situation in south Kashmir. All the terrorists who appeared with Hizbul-Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani in a group picture that was circulated in 2015 on social media have been killed by forces now. One among them, Tariq Pandit was captured alive by the security forces earlier in 2016.

J&K: Three terrorists killed in Shopian encounter; situation still tense

Cyclone Fani has hit Odisha this morning and has started making its impact felt and now it is moving towards the Indian state of West BEngal. Watch full video to know more.

Cyclone Fani heading towards West Bengal

Over 4,000 specialised personnel as part of 81 NDRF teams have been deployed to deal with the 'extremely severe<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cyclone-fani-hits-sri-lanka-with-heavy-rainfall-214916&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwisu8GZ6PzhAhXG7XMBHQsIA90QFjAAegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3KYJmV0qU5ZLq8XlPBON94">' cyclone 'Fani'</a> which is likely to affect Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal upon its landfall on Friday.

NDRF chief S N Pradhan told that about 50 teams have been pre-positioned in the coastal areas of Odisha,<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/navy-coast-guard-ships-ndrf-teams-deployed-along-east-coast-to-deal-with-cyclone-fani-214847&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiirMTK6PzhAhXi4HMBHbdODV8QFjACegQIDxAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw0rcJtNjTtcQNJ-CD5h_HuA"> Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal</a> which are feared to be affected while another 31 teams have been kept on standby.

Twenty-eight fully equipped teams have been deployed in and around Puri in Odisha as the cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall there Friday noon, the NDRF Director General (DG) said.

Similarly, 12 teams have been&nbsp;deployed in Andhra Pradesh and six in West Bengal. The rest of the teams, that comprise about 50 personnel each, have been kept on standby in these states.

Pradhan said a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and a commandant-rank officer have also been tasked to monitor the activities of the rescue and relief teams from the ground in Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar and Puri.

The teams have been equipped with additional boats, satellite phones, medical equipment, medicines, tree cutters, pickup and common mobility vehicles, and other gadgets, he said.

The force has also activated a round-the-clock control room at its headquarters here and a team of officials is in constant touch with the<a href="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-fani-likely-to-cross-odisha-coast-tomorrow-india-meteorological-department-215312&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjOmPj56PzhAhVc8XMBHSWVB0EQFjAEegQIBRAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3b_nHveE7WMqg9iU-za6lJ"> India Meteorological Department </a>(IMD) and the disaster response units of the three states.

NDRF teams have also been kept on alert in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

"Cyclone 'Fani' is expected to cross the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali to the south of Puri on May 3.

NDRF teams are creating awareness among the locals in vulnerable areas about the measures to be taken to deal with the cyclonic storm and other eventualities.

The state administration has set up a number of relief camps," an NDRF spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the NDRF teams have doctors, paramedics, engineers, deep divers and are equipped with boats, buoys, life jackets, scuba sets and latest communication equipment like a quickly deployable antenna (QDA), HF/VHF sets so that communication links function even if normal communication network fails.

Fani lays centred over West Central Bay of Bengal, about 430 km south-southwest of Puri in Odisha, 225 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 650 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal, as per the latest bulletin of the IMD.

Over 4,000 specialised personnel as part of 81 NDRF teams have been deployed to deal with the 'extremely severe' cyclone 'Fani' which is likely to affect Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal upon its landfall on Friday.

Over 4,000 specialised personnel as part of 81 NDRF teams have been deployed to deal with the 'extremely severe' cyclone 'Fani' which is likely to affect Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal upon its landfall on Friday. NDRF chief S N Pradhan told that about 50 teams have been pre-positioned in the coastal areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal which are feared to be affected while another 31 teams have been kept on standby. Twenty-eight fully equipped teams have been deployed in and around Puri in Odisha as the cyclonic storm is expected to make landfall there Friday noon, the NDRF Director General (DG) said. Similarly, 12 teams have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and six in West Bengal. The rest of the teams, that comprise about 50 personnel each, have been kept on standby in these states. Pradhan said a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and a commandant-rank officer have also been tasked to monitor the activities of the rescue and relief teams from the ground in Odisha's capital Bhubaneswar and Puri. The teams have been equipped with additional boats, satellite phones, medical equipment, medicines, tree cutters, pickup and common mobility vehicles, and other gadgets, he said. The force has also activated a round-the-clock control room at its headquarters here and a team of officials is in constant touch with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the disaster response units of the three states. NDRF teams have also been kept on alert in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. "Cyclone 'Fani' is expected to cross the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali to the south of Puri on May 3. NDRF teams are creating awareness among the locals in vulnerable areas about the measures to be taken to deal with the cyclonic storm and other eventualities. The state administration has set up a number of relief camps," an NDRF spokesperson said. The spokesperson said the NDRF teams have doctors, paramedics, engineers, deep divers and are equipped with boats, buoys, life jackets, scuba sets and latest communication equipment like a quickly deployable antenna (QDA), HF/VHF sets so that communication links function even if normal communication network fails. Fani lays centred over West Central Bay of Bengal, about 430 km south-southwest of Puri in Odisha, 225 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 650 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal, as per the latest bulletin of the IMD.

Cyclone Fani: 81 NDRF teams comprising over 4,000 personnel deployed

Telecommunication networks have been reportedly partially disrupted in Puri and Bhubaneswar districts in Odisha due to cyclonic storm Fani making landfall on Friday morning.

In addition to the 147 trains (scheduled from May 1 to May 3) cancelled earlier, East Coast Railway has cancelled 10 more trains.

Odisha and adjoining regions were battered by the extremely severe cyclonic storm which made landfall with a wind speed of around 245 kmph.

Helpline number - 1938 - has been made operational by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

Indian Coast Guard has positioned 34 disaster relief teams at Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Paradip, Gopalpur, Haldia, Frazergunj and Kolkata besides four ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai.

The system is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a "severe cyclonic storm" by the early morning of May 4.

Thereafter, it is expected to move further north-northeastwards and emerge into Bangladesh on May 4 evening as a cyclonic storm.&nbsp;

Telecommunication networks have been reportedly partially disrupted in Puri and Bhubaneswar districts in Odisha due to cyclonic storm Fani making landfall on Friday morning.

Telecommunication networks have been reportedly partially disrupted in Puri and Bhubaneswar districts in Odisha due to cyclonic storm Fani making landfall on Friday morning. In addition to the 147 trains (scheduled from May 1 to May 3) cancelled earlier, East Coast Railway has cancelled 10 more trains. Odisha and adjoining regions were battered by the extremely severe cyclonic storm which made landfall with a wind speed of around 245 kmph. Helpline number - 1938 - has been made operational by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Indian Coast Guard has positioned 34 disaster relief teams at Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Paradip, Gopalpur, Haldia, Frazergunj and Kolkata besides four ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai. The system is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a "severe cyclonic storm" by the early morning of May 4. Thereafter, it is expected to move further north-northeastwards and emerge into Bangladesh on May 4 evening as a cyclonic storm.

Cyclone Fani: Telecommunication networks partially disrupted in Puri, Bhubaneswar

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More than 200 trains and several flights have been cancelled as 'extremely severe' storm hit Odisha. Watch full video to know more.

Trains cancelled, rescuers on standby as Odisha, Bengal braces for Cyclone Fani

In the latest news coming in from Shopian, two terrorists have been killed in an encounter in J&K's Shopian including Top Hizbul commander Tariq Maulvi. Watch full video to know more.

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