Indian Navy on high alert for cyclone Fani

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Eastern Naval Command is on high alert after cyclone storm Fani (pronounced as ‘Foni’) got intensified into a 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' over the south-east and adjoining south-west Bay of Bengal, a Navy spokesperson said.

Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are on stand-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid.

Naval aircraft are also on stand-by at the Naval Air Stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamil Nadu and INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and air drop of relief material to the stranded if required, the spokesperson added.


As per the latest (India Meteorological Department) IMD bulletin, issued on 08:30 hours today, Fani over Southeast & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal moved north-northwestwards with a speed of about 16 kmph in last six hours, intensified into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm and lay centred at 0530 hrs, about 670 km east-northeast of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 690 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 760 km southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh).

"It is very likely to intensify further into an Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm during next 36 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till 01st May evening and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards towards Odisha Coast," bulletin further adds.

Regular warnings have been issued since April 25 to fishermen not to venture into the sea and asking those at sea to return to the coast, said the statement, adding that the IMD has been issuing three-hourly bulletins with latest forecast to all the states concerned. IMD has been issuing three hourly bulletins with latest forecast to all concerned states.