Chennai, April 30: With the Cyclonic storm intensifying over the coastal regions of Bay of Bengal, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, the Indian Navy has started its preparedness to provide assistance in case of an emergency. It also informed that the defence force has kept its additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief materials on standby.

As the Cyclone Fani likely to intensify further into extremely severe cyclonic Storm during next 36 hrs, the IMD has issued an alert of heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places over coastal Odisha and adjoining districts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh on May 3 and 4. It also added that heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on these days.

Meanwhile, MHA has ordered for an advance release of financial assistance of Rs 1,086 crore to Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, to their State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to assist them in undertaking preventive and relief measures in response to cyclonic storm.

Stating the Indian Navy is ready to provide all assistance, Naval spokesperson tweeted, "As the cyclone storm FANI intensifies into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over SE & adjoining SW Bay of Bengal & lie about 770 km ESE of Chennai at 1730 h/ 29 Apr, the Eastern Naval CD (ENC) has assumed high degree of readiness 2 render necessary humanitarian assistance."  Cyclone 'Fani' Very Likely to Intensify Into 'Severe Cyclonic Storm', Warns IMD; Odisha, Tamil Nadu on Alert. 

Adding more, it said, "Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam & Chennai are ready & standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid." The Spokesperson also added, "These ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats & relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets etc, in quantities sufficient."

"Naval aircraft are also standing by at the Naval Air Stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamilnadu and INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material to the stranded if required", the spokesperson said.

In the meantime, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) posted some does and don'ts on twitter during Cyclone Fani. IMD also states that Cyclone Fani intensified into a severe cyclone and is currently lying 700 km east south-east of Chennai. It is most likely to curve northwest-wards tomorrow and thereafter may recurve towards Odisha coast.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 30, 2019 09:10 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).