As Cyclone Fani hit Odisha and its neighbouring states, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday informed that she has cancelled all her election rallies in her home state for the next two days in the wake of ‘impending’ Cyclone Fani.
“Have cancelled my rallies for the next 48 hours because of what could be an impending disaster #CyclonicStormFANI We are monitoring the situation 24×7 and doing all it takes. I appeal to all people to cooperate. Be alert, take care and stay safe for the next two days,” she tweeted.
Have cancelled my rallies for the next 48 hours because of what could be an impending disaster #CyclonicStormFANI We are monitoring the situation 24×7 and doing all it takes. I appeal to all people to cooperate. Be alert, take care and stay safe for the next two days
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 3, 2019
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Banerjee will stay in Kharagpur in West Bengal, near the coastal belt and monitor the situation herself.
Earlier in the day, Odisha and adjoining regions were battered by the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani which made landfall in Puri district with a wind speed of around 245 kmph, according to Hyderabad IMD.
The landfall began on Friday morning at 8 am with strong winds and rain hitting Puri district. Helpline number – 1938 – has been made operational by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
Indian Coast Guard has positioned 34 disaster relief teams at Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Paradip, Gopalpur, Haldia, Frazergunj and Kolkata besides four ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai.
The system is likely to continue to move north-northeastwards, weaken gradually and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal as a ‘severe cyclonic storm’ by the early morning of May 4.
(With ANI inputs)