Cyclone Fani hits Odisha coast, Rohit Sharma among other cricketers expresses solidarity
A severe cyclone storm made landfall on Odisha coast this morning at 8:00 am. Cyclone Fani may be a category 3 or 4 hurricane, extremely severe cyclonic storm south of Puri in Odisha. The government has already evacuated more than 1 million people from low lying areas in 15 districts.
Indian cricketers like Rohit Sharma and Harbhajan Singh have expressed their solidarity with the people of Odisha. Harbhajan Singh took to his official Twitter account and wrote, “Prayers are with you all Odisha #CycloneFani.” While Rohit Sharma Tweeted, “Stay safe Odisha!.”
Prayers are with you all Odisha 🙏🙏 #CycloneFani
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) May 3, 2019
Stay safe Odisha!
— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) May 3, 2019
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that centre stands with people in states facing severe cyclone. Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee cancelled her election rallies for the next 48 hours as the cyclone is expected to move towards Bengal.
Cyclone Fani is extremely severe cyclonic storm with a wind speed of around 175 kmph. It is expected to move north-northeastwards towards Bangladesh during the next 3 hours. National Disaster Response Force (NDRA) and coast guards are on high alert.
Indian Navy P8I and Dornier aircraft are scheduled to be launched in the afternoon for undertaking aerial surveys to assess the extent of impact and devastation.
It is the most powerful cyclonic storm to strike India since 1999, when a similar system struck Odisha resulting in more than 10,000 deaths.
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First published: 3 May 2019, 13:51 IST