Cyclone Fani in Odisha: Cyclone 'Fani', pronounced as "Foni", has intensified into an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm' and it will cross the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali by Friday afternoon, the India Meteorological Department said. According to the IMD, the storm is very likely move northwestwards till May 1 evening, and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and reach Odisha coast by the afternoon of May 3. Director of the regional meteorological centre, H R Biswas said the impact of Cyclone 'Fani' is likely to be much more severe than 'Titli', which had hit the Odisha-Andhra coast last year and killed at least 60 people.

The Indian Air Force has been alerted and their services will be utilised if necessary, Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said, adding the state government has taken up the matter with the NDRF.

Meanwhile, Odisha government has declared holiday at schools and colleges in view of approaching cyclone Fani. Election Commission of India has also lifted the Model Code of Conduct soon after CM Naveen Patnaik requested the Election Commission to remove MCC in view of the severe cylonic storm Fani heading towards the east coast.

The name ''Fani" was suggested by Bangladesh. Roughly translated, "Fani" means the hood of a snake, according to reports.

Here are the top 10 updates on Cyclone Fani:


• Cyclone 'Fani' has intensified into an 'extremely severe cyclonic storm'. The IMD has issued a formal cyclone alert for Odisha, West Bengal and parts of Andhra Pradesh, and suggested evacuation of costal areas. The administration of Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Balasore, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar Mayurbhanj districts of Odisha have been put on high alert.

• In Odisha, the model code of conduct has been lifted in the districts of Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khordha, Cuttack and Jajpur to facilitate rescue, relief, and restoration activities.



• All educational establishments asked to declare holidays at schools and colleges from May 2 till further orders. All exams also postponed.

• Tourists are being advised to leave Puri by 2nd May evening. While non-essential travel may be cancelled during 3- 4 May to the likely affected districts, Special Relief Commissioner of Odisha said.

• The states have issued advisories and are ensuring that fishermen do not venture into the sea.

• In view of the severity of the situation, Navy and Coast Guard ships and helicopters, relief teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in strategic locations, while Army and Air Force units have been put on standby as severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' is approaching towards India's eastern coast.

• The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's top body to deal with emergency situations, reviewed the preparedness with the states and departments concerned of the central government to deal with the situation arising out of the cyclonic storm.

• 20 units of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and 335 units of fire services have also been kept in a state of preparedness.

• The NDRF is deploying 41 teams in Andhra Pradesh (8), Odisha (28) and West Bengal (5) for prepositioning. Aircraft of the Indian Navy are also in a state of readiness at two locations for emergency services.

• South coastal Odisha is expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall on Thursday. Rainfall is likely to increase at most places with heavy to very heavy rains at a few places with "extremely heavy falls" at isolated places over coastal Odisha and its adjoining districts of interior Odisha on Thursday.