Cyclone Fani: EC relaxes Model Code of Conduct in Andhra Pradesh’s four coastal districts

"The Commission has considered the matter and approved the proposal of granting relaxation in the provisions of MCC for all the preventive and relief work associated with the cyclone in the above-mentioned districts," the letter said.

Three people were killed in separate incidents as cyclone Fani battered the Odisha coast Friday. Fani, an extremely severe cyclonic storm lashed the Odisha coast Friday morning, uprooting trees, blowing away thatched huts, and disrupting communication links. (Photo by Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

NEW DELHI: Election Commission of India on Friday relaxed the Model Code of Conduct in four coastal districts to enable the state to take steps in view of the cyclone threat. Four districts of coastal AP East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, and Srikakulam have to be kept on high alert. "The Commission has considered the matter and approved the proposal of granting relaxation in the provisions of MCC for all the preventive and relief work associated with the cyclone in the above-mentioned districts," the letter said. Three people were killed in separate incidents as cyclone Fani battered the Odisha coast Friday. Fani, an extremely severe cyclonic storm lashed the Odisha coast Friday morning, uprooting trees, blowing away thatched huts, and disrupting communication links. Earlier on Wednesday, the Chief Minister wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora in this regard, saying the super cyclone FANI was likely to hit the coast between north coastal Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. "To facilitate free flow of information, mobilization of human and material resources and taking other preventive steps, there is a need to relax the model code of conduct that is in force in the state. Since the Assembly elections have been completed in the state, it is requested that the model code of conduct may be relaxed in the above mentioned four districts,so that official machinery and the ministers concerned could work effectively to keep the effects of cyclone FANI to the minimum and provide the solace and succour to the people of the affected areas," the Chief Minister said. ALSO WATCH: Cyclone Fani: Rain in Andhra Pradesh' Srikakulam