BHUBANESHWAR, INDIA: The Indian authorities have evacuated around 800,000 people along the northeast coastline ahead of a severe cyclone due to make landfall on Friday.
Severe cyclone Fani was lying in the Bay of Bengal about 420 kilometres (260 miles) south-southwest of Puri town where special trains were ready to evacuate tourists and the locals. Puri is home to Shree Jagannath, one of Hinduism’s holiest temples. Millions of pilgrims visit temple each year. The government has advised the pilgrims to leave the town and reschedule any non-essential travel in the region.
The state relief department confirmed that 780,000 people have been shifted to safer places from at least 13 districts of Odisha state. Odisha will bear the brunt of the powerful cyclone.
Operations at two major ports, Paradip and Visakhapatnamon, have also been shut down and ships have been ordered to leave the area to avoid damage. Cyclone tracker Tropical Storm Risk (TSR) rated Fani a mid-range category 3 storm.
Some 1,000 shelters have been set up in schools and government building to accommodate more than a million people. In Paradip, residents piled bicycles, sewing machines and gas cylinders onto small trucks and left for shelters. These shelters have been supplied with food, water and medicines. Arrangements have already been made for food, safe drinking water, lighting and sanitation
The neighbouring coastal states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu have also been put on high alert. Government has also advised tourists to leave coastal towns in West Bengal and Odisha.
Storms regularly hit eastern and southeastern parts of India between April and December. In 2017, 250 people were killed and 600 went missing when Cyclone Ockhi hit Tamil Nadu and Kerala states. In October 2018, Odisha had to evacuate 300,000 people when Cyclone Titli hit its coastal districts with winds up to 150 kilometres per hour and heavy rains.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription
