Cyclone Fani is expected to cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali by the afternoon of 3 May, the Indian Meteorological Department said on Wednesday. Authorities in Odisha have asked tourists in Puri to leave the temple town, according to Hindustan Times.
They have also requested additional teams and helicopters to assist them in evacuating people who will be affected, the report added.
The Election Commission, according to ANI, has also approved the proposal of lifting of the Model Code of Conduct in districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack and Jajpur to facilitate speedy rescue, relief and restoration activities.
Navy and Coast Guard ships and helicopters, relief teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been deployed in strategic locations, while Army and Air Force units have been put on standby, officials said on Tuesday.
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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, the Navy said in a statement.
The NDRF is deploying 41 teams in Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (28) and West Bengal (5) for prepositioning. In addition, the NDRF is keeping on standby 13 teams in West Bengal and 10 in Andhra Pradesh, an official told PTI.
NDMA has also tweeted a list of Do’s and Don’t’s.
(With PTI inputs)