New Delhi, May 2: As the Cyclone Fani likely to make landfall in eastern coastal areas of the country including Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness for the storm. The meeting was attended by the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the PM, the Additional Principal Secretary to the PM, the Home Secretary, and other senior officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Cyclone Fani Intensifies, Indian Navy On Standby for Emergency As IMD Issues Alert in Odisha, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

The Prime Minister was briefed on the likely path of the cyclone, and the ongoing precautionary and preparatory measures being undertaken. These include the provision of adequate resources; deployment of teams from NDRF and the Armed Forces; arrangements to provide drinking water; and standby systems to restore power and telecom services. After reviewing the emerging situation, PM Modi instructed senior officers of the Union Government to maintain close coordination with officers of the affected States, to ensure preventive measures, and also to take effective steps for relief and rescue operations, as required.

The cyclone is likely to make landfall on the eastern coast on May 3. Meanwhile, the Indian Railways have cancelled 103 train in the southern area, while all the trains plying between Howrah and Puri have been cancelled too. Earlier on Thursday morning, the Indian Navy, NDRF, SDRF and Coast Guard have mentioned that they have kept their personnel and relief measures ready to help rescue as many people as they can.

Coast Guard (East) IG Paramesh said, "We have positioned 8 rescue teams, four each at Visakhapatnam & Chennai. We have also kept two ships each at Visakhapatnam and Chennai for immediate mobilisation post-cyclone. One Chetak helicopter, each at Chennai and Visakhapatnam is kept ready to provide relief." Cyclone 'Fani' Very Likely to Intensify Into 'Severe Cyclonic Storm', Warns IMD; Odisha, Tamil Nadu on Alert.

Earlier on Thursday morning, the Indian Navy, NDRF, SDRF and Coast Guard have mentioned that they have kept their personnel and relief measures ready to help rescue as many people as they can. In the meantime, all the tourists in Puri and nearby have been advised to vacate the city immediately, as the Cyclone Fani is expected to strike at a speed of 170-180 kmph on Friday.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 02, 2019 04:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).