The north coastal districts, particularly Srikakulam, continue to be in the grip of fear as the extremely severe tropical storm Fani intensified into a super cyclone and lay centred over the west central Bay of Bengal about 170 km east-southeast of Vishakhapatnam at 2.30 p.m. on Thursday and is likely to cross the coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali in Odisha during the forenoon of May 3 with a maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting up to 200 kmph.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) stated in its bulletin that cyclone landfall process was likely to continue till noon/afternoon of May 3.
Under the influence of Fani, there is likelihood heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over Srikakulam district on May 3.
Power outages
Heavy rain accompanied by gales started lashing several places in Srikakulam and Vizianagaram districts and officials began evacuating the people in vulnerable areas to safety. Various crops were already damaged in the north coastal belt, and there were power outages in villages.
The IMD predicted that squally wind with speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph was likely to prevail along and off the north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts as the cyclone crosses the coast during the day on Friday.
It suggested a total suspension of fishing operations, evacuation from coastal areas and judicious regulation of rail and road traffic. Meanwhile, Chief Secretary L.V. Subrahmanyam told Union Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha during a video-conference on cyclone preparedness that 11 mandals in Srikakulam district and five in Vizianagaram were likely to be impacted by Fani and necessary precautions were being taken.
The following helpline numbers have been arranged at major railway stations: Vijayawada - 0866-2575167, Anakapalle- 08924-221698, Tuni - 08854-252172, Rajahmundry - 0883-2420541 and 2420543, and Samalkot - 0884-2327010.
