Kolkata, May 4: After causing havoc in Odisha on Friday, Cyclone Fani entered West Bengal post midnight on Saturday. The severe cyclonic storm is believed to be one of the strongest storms to batter the Indian subcontinent in decades. Cyclone Fani entered Bengal at 12.30 a.m. through Odisha's Balasore. Regional Meteorological Centre's Deputy Director General Sanjib Bandyopadhyay said the storm crossed Kharagpur packing a wind of 70-80 kmph, gusting to 90 kmph and heavy rains on Saturday. The storm will further weaken into a deep depression and move into Bangladesh by noon on Saturday.

Several cities and towns in coastal Bengal including Digha, Mandarmani, Tajpur and Contai were affected severely. Meanwhile, the storm also had a string impact in cities like Kharagpur and Burdwan as trees were uprooted and metal hoardings gave way. Track the Cyclone Live Here.

According to the Meteorological department, the extremely severe cyclonic storm relatively weakened after entering coastal Odisha and transformed into "very severe" as it approached Bengal. The cyclonic storm entered Bengal hours after making landfall in on the Odisha coast in Puri. According to a latest update, Cyclone Fani hit West Bengal by crossing Kharagpur and continues further in North-East direction with the wind speed of 90 km/hour. Cyclone Fani Making Landfall in Odisha.  

According to reports, in the sea resort of Digha, the win speed reached 70 kmph in some areas, in Frazerganj the wind velocity was between 60 and 70 kmph. No loss of life or any injury has been reported so far from West Bengal. The regional MeT department said the rains will continue till early morning on Saturday, and the weather will start improving by evening. The administration has switched off electricity to prevent any accident as the storm passed through a particular point in the state. Cyclone Fani Alert in West Bengal: Indian Railways Cancels 223 Trains From Bhadrak-Vizianagaram and Kolkata-Chennai Route Till May 4. 

Kolkata still reels with the dreadful memories of cyclone, 'Aila' which wreaked havoc in Sundarbans about 10 years back. In the wake of Cyclone Fani threat, thousands had taken shelters in relief camps and flood centres in the islands as severe cyclonic storm approached West Bengal causing intense intermittent rainfall and destroying houses.

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According to private weather agency Skymet Weather, Cyclone Fani has been found to be the strongest to hit the country since 1999. The agency said, India has witnessed at least 20 severe cyclonic storms in past two decades but the ongoing "extremely severe" cyclone "Fani" is believed to be the deadliest of all. Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) chief K.J. Ramesh said that 'Fani' was also the strongest cyclonic storm in the month of April since 1901.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 04, 2019 08:39 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).