AMN / NEW DELHI
The union Home Ministry has ordered for advance release of financial assistance of 1086 crore rupees for four states to assist them in undertaking preventive and relief measures in response to cyclonic storm FANI.
Based on the decision of National Crisis Management Committee, NCMC, the amount will be released to their State Disaster Response Fund, SDRF.
Around 200 crore rupees for Andhra Pradesh, over 340 crore for Odisha, 309 crore for Tamil Nadu and 235 crore rupees for West Bengal have been sanctioned.
Meanwhile the Severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ in the south-east Bay of Bengal is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by this afternoon. The MeT department said, Fani is moving in the northern direction mid-sea and has the potential to become an extremely severe cyclonic storm tomorrow noon.
The weather system is expected to move northwestwards till tomorrow and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards towards the Odisha Coast. Light to moderate rain at a few places is forecast over north coastal Tamil Nadu, south coastal Andhra Pradesh and at many places in Kerala today.
Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are ready and standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake relief and rescue operations. The Navy said, Naval aircraft are also standing by at the Naval Air Stations in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.