Bhubaneswar: Extremely Severe Cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ over West-Central Bay of Bengal, which is stated to be first severe cyclonic storm to have formed in April in India’s oceanic neighbourhood since 1976, continues to gain strength and move closer to Odisha coast.

As per the latest information by Odisha SRC Bishnupada Sethi, the landfall process has already begun in the coastal areas while Puri recorded a wind speed of 175 kmph. The extremely severe Cyclonic Storm Fani is expected to make a landfall very shortly.

Sethi further informed that around 10.85 lakh people have been evacuated in 11 vulnerable districts of Odisha. No reports of casualties yet, he added.

The sea condition is high to phenomenal along & off south coastal Odisha and adjoining north coastal Andhra Pradesh, By 5:30 AM, Gopalpur received maximum 150 mm rainfall, followed by Puri 100 mm, Bhubaneswar 50 mm and Paradip, Chandabali, Balasore with 30 mm each. While Gopalpur reported a wind speed of 53 knots (100 kmph), Puri reported a speed of 38 knots (70 kmph) at 5:30AM.

Here are the all the live updates:

At 6:30 AM, the extremely severe Cyclonic Storm Fani lay centered about 80 km south-southwest of Puri, 65 km southeast of Gopalpur: IMD

At 4:30 AM today, the extremely severe cyclonic storm “Fani” lay centered near lat. 18.90n and long. 85.40e over northwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal about 110 km south-southwest of Puri, and 65 km southeast of Gopalpur, informed IMD. Gopalpur received a rainfall of 140mm, Puri 90mm and Kalingapatnam 90mm. Gopalpur also reported a wind speed of 57 knots (105 kmph) at 4:30AM today. Gopalpur also reported a wind speed of 57 knots (105 kmph) at 4:30AM today.