Cyclone Fani - SOS alert in India

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Cyclone Fani has intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm, with landfall expected at wind speeds of approximately 205 km/h, impacting West Bengal and Odisha. The Indian Navy is on high alert, prepared with ships, divers, and aircraft for potential rescue and relief operations. The cyclone is anticipated to make landfall south of Puri on Friday afternoon, with comparisons drawn to the destructive Hudhud cyclone of 2014. Preparations include the closure of Kolkata airport and the readiness of the National Disaster Response Force. As Fani approaches, heavy rain and winds have already begun affecting Kolkata, with reports of damage to infrastructure. The cyclone has since entered West Bengal, causing some loss of life and property, particularly among vulnerable communities. As Fani moves toward Bangladesh, the situation remains critical, but early warnings and local response efforts have helped minimize casualties.
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NDTV, one of India's leading news agencies, describes it as "extremely severe". Its landfall will be at about 205kmph. The two states that are under high alert are West Bengal and Odisha.

Quoting the news article:
With cyclone Fani having intensified into a extremely severe cyclonic storm, the Indian Navy today said it has started preparations to provide assistance in case of an emergency. The navy has prepared ships with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief materials. The navy said that its aircraft are also standing by at air stations in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material to the stranded if required.

Cyclone Fani is headed towards the Odisha coast and is likely to hit south of Puri on Friday afternoon, the weather department said on Monday. Officials had earlier said that Fani can worsen into an "extremely severe cyclone" by tomorrow, prompting the government to put the National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Coast Guard on high alert.
In its severity, Fani can be compared to Hudhud which, in 2014, caused extensive damage. Hudhud had a maximum speed of around 215kmph. Hudhud derailed an entire train near the place where it made the landfall.

Heavy loss and damage is expected. The Govt. Of India has already issued funds expecting casualties.

It's already cloudy here in Kolkata. Hope that the cyclone would dissipate fast after landfall.

Update: Some more news is here:
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/for...fani-expected-to-hit-odisha-on-friday-2031235
 
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Hope you are safe!
 
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berkeman said:
Hope you are safe!
Thanks for your concern, but we really don't know as of now. The cyclone is changing its path now and then. Light rain has already started here. One IMD (Indian Meteorological Department) official said in the news that the cyclone could become even stronger after landfall. :eek:
 
Landfall started at about 8:50am (IST). Expected wind speeds after landfall are 200-230 kmph.

Read alert initiated in West Bengal and Odisha.
 
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Current situation: trains in car shed have been chained to tracks. Lamp posts bent. Roof shades blown off. Bus blown away. Windows broken off along with iron frames.

Advancing towards Kolkata. Approximate wind speed 100 kmph.
 
DrClaude said:
Just seen some pictures.
Seems like pretty bad storm.
Videos speak better than pictures. Here is one video that I shot when a local news channel was showing some original clips of the cyclone (do watch till the end):

DrClaude said:
At least you seem to be ok and with power and internet.
Till now, yes. The storm is supposed to come to our city at about 10pm. Wind speeds estimated to be 90kmph. The Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has said that once the cyclone comes here, electricity could be disconnected so as to avoid any danger from breaking of wires.
 
Update: Fani entered West Bengal at about 1am (IST) today (4th May). It passed over Kharagpur and western Kolkata. Speed was around 80kmph. Nobody was injured, thanks to early warnings of the IMD and work by the local authorities. But number of families near the rivers and sea lost their huts, which drowned in the raging waters.

Currently Fani is heading for Bangladesh. Odisha Govt. says that 8 people have lost their lives and a few are injured.

Kolkata airport reopened today at 8am (IST) instead of 3pm. Don't know about express trains, but passenger trains are plying as normal.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...fe-from-cyclone-fani/articleshow/69172691.cms
 

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