AMN
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed officials to take preventive measures to deal with Cyclone Fani which is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow. The Prime Minister has asked the officials to be prepared to provide all possible assistance. He urged them to work closely with Governments of the affected states.
On the directions of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha reviewed the preparedness of coastal states – Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal – through video conference to deal with the situation. Officials of MeT Department, Ministries of Home and Defence and National Disaster Management Authority were among those who attended the meeting.
Cyclone Fani is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by tomorrow and will continue to move North West and change its path to North East from Wednesday. According to the MeT department, landfall over Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh is ruled out. However, the possibility of landfall in Odisha is under continuous watch.
The National Disaster Response Force and Indian Coast Guard have been put on high and placed at the disposal of State Government Authorities. Regular warnings have been issued since Thursday to fishermen not to venture into the sea. Those at sea have been asked to return to the coast. The MeT department has been issuing three hourly bulletins with the latest forecast to all the concerned States.