Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been put on high alert, as the India Meteorological Department has issued a warning that cyclonic storm Fani is heading towards its coastal area. In the wake of the storm warning, Chief Secretary of Odisha Aditya Prasad Padhi directed Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) to keep close watch over the situation and asked concerned departments to stay in all preparedness to deal with any possible strike of the cyclone. According to reports, authorities have also cancelled leaves of officials.

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Here it is to be noted that according to the IMD, Cyclonic storm, 'Fani' in the southeast Bay of Bengal is likely to turn severe on Monday and intensify further into a "very severe" cyclonic storm on Tuesday before heading towards north coastal Andhra and Odisha coast. While there is still no clarity as to where 'Fani' will make landfall, officials indicated that it may hit the coast near north coastal Andhra on May 2 or May 3. Meanwhile, moderate rainfall at many places with heavy falls at isolated places is very likely over Kerala, and moderate rainfall at isolated places is likely over north coastal Tamil Nadu and south coastal Andhra Pradesh on Monday and Tuesday.

However it is worth mention here that gale wind speed is likely to increase to 145 km per hour over Southwest Bay of Bengal from April 30 morning and 185 kmph over the north Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh coasts from May 1 evening, the IMD said. "It is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 12 hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 1 evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards gradually," said the IMD bulletin. Meanwhile, the Centre has assured the states to release the first instalment of the State Disaster Response Fund in advance as per their request, reported The Times of India. Fishermen of the area are also warned not to venture into the sea.

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