The Cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood is likely to head towards the Odisha coast on or after May 1 and may trigger heavy rainfall, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Monday.

The  storm is very likely to intensify into a severe cyclonic storm during next six hours and into a very severe cyclonic storm during subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till May 1 and thereafter re-curve north-northeastwards towards Odisha coast, the IMD said.

Under its impact, light to moderate rainfall is likely at a few places over south coastal Odisha on May 2 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal Odisha from May 3, the IMD forecasted.

Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along and off Odisha coast from May 2 and likely to become 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph from May 3 onwards.

The sea condition is very likely to be rough to very rough along and off Odisha coast from May 3 for which fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea.

Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi said, “As per available readings, the cyclone is shifting its original track and coming closer to the coast”. Originally, it was predicted that the cyclone would move inside the sea, he added. 

Later, Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi chaired a pre-cyclone preparedness meeting at the State Secretariat and directed the concerned departments to stay in all preparedness to deal with any possible strike of the cyclone.

 Padhi directed the Odisha State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA) to keep close watch over the situation and directed to keep the cyclone and flood shelters in coastal areas ready with all necessary emergency equipment and materials.

The health and family welfare and food supplies and consumer welfare departments were asked to keep stock of essential medicines and food items in district headquarters.  Panchayati raj and drinking water department was also asked to ensure supply of drinking water as per necessity in the marooned areas.

Padhi further added, “The State has strengthened its preparedness for cyclone, flood and disasters. The number of ODRAF units has been increased to 20 from 10.

All the 20 units are now fully functional with the necessary equipment. Apart from that 12 units of the NDRF team are also available in the State. The State is all prepared to deal with any possible strike of Fani”.

In the meeting it was revealed that there are 879 multipurpose cyclone shelters in the coastal belt. All the shelters are in readiness. The shelters can accommodate about one million persons during the cyclone and flood.

All the shelters have been retrofitted with lightening arresting systems. A total number of 252 power boats in working condition have been placed with different district collectors.

The fire stations have been equipped with required search and rescue equipment and First Responder Teams have been trained for rescue and relief operation.

Among others, DGP Dr Rajendra Prasad Sharma, NDRF senior officials along with secretaries of concerned department were present.