Puri: On Tuesday, the Election Commission of India (ECI) lifted the model code of conduct (MCC) in Odisha to facilitate speedy rescue, relief and restoration activities in the wake of severe cyclonic storm 'Fani', pronounced as Foni. It is to be noted that the Election Commission had approved the lifting of provisions of MCC in the districts of Puri, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore, Bhadrak Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack and Jajpur.

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Kashinath Sahoo, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer said in a letter to Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi “The Election Commission of India have approved the proposal of lifting of the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct in the districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Cuttack and Jajpur in order to facilitate speedy rescue, relief and restoration activities to successfully face cyclone Fani". Tamil Nadu, Andhra to Witness Heavy Rainfall as Cyclone Intensifies.

However, it is worth mention here that  earlier on Tuesday, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik met chief election commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora and urged him to remove the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) with regards to disaster management for the coastal district in the state so that the government can handle the situation keeping the safety of people in mind. Cyclone Fani has now turned into "extremely severe" ahead of its landfall in Odisha on May 3. A high alert has been issued to all coastal districts. On Tuesday, the cyclone was seen gushing at a speed of 200 km/hr. The cyclone is expected to get slightly weaken by Friday, when it is expected to hit Khurda, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts in Odisha.

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