03 May, 19:58 (IST)

DG of PIB informed that after the damage at Bhubaneswar airport, restoration work is underway. He also informed that Teams from the Airport Authority of India are working and Aircraft movements expected by by 1 PM tomorrow.

03 May, 18:48 (IST)

No confirmed report of deaths, but 160 reportedly injured, says DG PIB. He wrote, "As per telephonic information, in Puri, extensive damage to kuchha houses, old buildings and temporary shops. No confirmed report of deaths, but 160 reportedly injured. Power and telecom is completely down. NDRF and State forces are clearing roads."

03 May, 17:57 (IST)

Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu directs Civil Aviation Secretary to continuously monitor the situation of Cyclone Fani. He said, "Directed Civil Aviation Secy to continuously monitor the situation. DGCA will be issuing revised advisories to Airlines and when necessary. Taking all possible steps for passenger safety and to minimize their inconvenience."

03 May, 17:50 (IST)

Strong winds & heavy rainfall hit Bhubaneswar city. Visuals from Biju Patnaik International Airport in Odisha.

03 May, 17:16 (IST)

Cyclone Fani is nearing towards West Bengal with a speed of 90-100 km/hr. The wind speed is less than half at which it struck the Odisha coast earlier today. 

03 May, 16:02 (IST)

AIIMS PG Exam scheduled on May 5 has been cancelled in view of the cyclone which has struck Odisha and other eastern states.

03 May, 15:11 (IST)

Even as reports claim the death of 6 people in cyclone Fani so far, an Indian Coast Guard official has claimed that no casualty has been incurred so far.

03 May, 14:18 (IST)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that he has announced a total of Rs 1,000 crore relief package for Cyclone Fani in different states. "I took latest update from officers. I held a review meeting on Thursday. More than Rs 1000 cr was release to concerned govts y'day in advance. NDRF, Indian Coast Guard, Army, Navy, Air Force are working with admn. I assure the affected people that nation & centre are with them", PM Modi said. 

03 May, 14:14 (IST)

Sanjeev Bandhopadhyay, Deputy DGM Meteorological Department was quoted by reports saying that the "extremely severe cyclonic storm" had crossed Puri from 8 am to 10 am, the eye of the storm is now on land and that it has weakened to a "severe cyclonic storm."

03 May, 14:13 (IST)

In the wake of the extremely severe cyclonic storm- Cyclone Fani, parts of Uttar Pradesh including Barsana, Bharatpur, Mathura will receive rainfall during the next 2 hours.

Load More

Bhubaneswar, May 3: Cyclone Fani is likely to make landfall at Puri coast within the next few hours. The landfall, according to reports, will be initiated between 9:30am to 11am, and the centre of the cyclone will hit the land at around 2pm. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued the highest level of alert in Odisha, while asking the other states along east coast to remain on edge. Stay tuned here for live news and updates on Cyclone Fani.

A total of 19 districts spread across Odisha and West Bengal will be affected by the cyclone, along with parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. Rains combined with high speed has been witnessed in the region since the last 18 hours. Cyclone Fani: All Flights From Bhubaneswar, Kolkata Cancelled For 24 Hours

IMD Director General KJ Sharma told reporters that the cyclone would weaken post 4pm, nearly two hours after it makes complete landfall. Rainfall, however, would be witnessed over the next couple of days.

The primary threat, said Sharma, is in Odisha where the cyclone will make landfall. Once it moves towards West Bengal, the storm would considerably loose its impact and bring along only rains.

'Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm' Cyclone Fani to Hit Odisha on May 3

All schools, colleges and institutes have been closed in Odisha till further orders. In West Bengal, educational campuses will remain locked till May 4 in view of the threat posed by Fani.

A total of 223 trains to and from Odisha and parts of West Bengal have been cancelled. The Kolkata airport will be closed tonight at around 9:30 pm, whereas, flight operations at Bhubaneswar were clamped down last midnight.

The Odisha government and the Centre have targeted a zero-casualty rescue programme. Hongkong is the only nation which has prevented any fatality in a cyclone of such intensity.

So far, nearly 3.3 lakh people have been shifted to shelter homes, whereas, nearly 8.2 lakh others are being taken to relief camps.