Cyclone Fani, one of the strongest storms to batter the Indian subcontinent in decades, has weakened into a "cyclonic storm leaving no more major threat" for West Bengal on Saturday.


Fani weakens, likely to enter Bangladesh around noon (2nd Lead)


IANS Automatic

The Indian government's "zero casualty" policy for cyclones and the pinpoint accuracy of the India Meteorological Department's (IMD) early warning system have helped reduce the possibility of deaths from cyclone Fani, according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (ODRR).


India's 'zero casualty' policy, pinpoint warnings minimised Fani deaths


India has witnessed at least 20 severe cyclonic storms in past two decades but the ongoing "extremely severe" cyclone "Fani", which hit the eastern coast along Odisha with a wind speed of up to 200 km per hour on Friday, has been found to be the strongest to hit the country since 1999.


Fani strongest cyclone to hit India since 1999: Skymet


Cyclonic storm Fani, now situated in Odisha about 340 km southwest of Kolkata, has triggered intense rainfall and winds in West Bengal destroying 50 houses in East Midnapore district.


Cyclone Fani to enter Bengal by midnight (2nd Lead)


The Assam government has sounded an alert in all districts of the state following a warning that Cyclone Fani will lash Assam and other parts of the northeastern region for two days starting Saturday early hours.


Assam on alert as Fani likely to hit on Saturday


The Bihar police have recovered an electronic device from the body of a dead bird that usually could not be spotted in the local area.


Suspected electronic device found on bird's body


The extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani, which is currently situated at about 370 km southwest of Kolkata, is likely to enter West Bengal with a wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph by midnight to Saturday early morning, an official said here on Friday.


Cyclone Fani to enter West Bengal by midnight


The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi on Friday announced that it is cancelling the exam centre in Bhubaneswar, where exam was to be held on Sunday.


AIIMS cancels Bhubaneswar centre for May 5 exam


Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that the Centre stood with the people in states hit by cyclone Fani.


Centre stands with people hit by Fani: Modi


The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) unit here  on Friday  reported extensive damage hours after the Category 4 Cyclone Fani made landfall on the Odisha coast wreaking havoc and leaving a trail of destruction.


Fani batters AIIMS Bhubaneswar unit, rips off hostel roof


Though the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a near normal monsoon this year, the situation is likely to be complex amid possibility of spatial variation in the rainfall due to impact of climate change and lesser water storage reported from reservoirs in the eastern and western regions compared to last year.


Near-normal monsoon forecast may not solve water woes  (Special)


The Election Commission on Friday relaxed the model code of conduct (MCC) in four districts of Andhra Pradesh to facilitate rescue and rehabilitation works in the wake of the extremely severe cyclonic storm, Fani.


EC relaxes model code of conduct in Andhra


As the severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall in neighbouring Odisha, heavy rainfall lashed Kolkata and Gangetic West Bengal on Friday.


Rain lashes Bengal as Fani stings Odisha


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the state was prepared to combat the extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani that is likely to affect six southern districts, while urging people to stay alert and not to panic.


Bengal ready to combat impending disaster: Mamata on Fani


As a precaution against cyclone 'Fani', the Indian Railway has cancelled 223 trains in the Bhadrak-Vizianagaram section, along the coastal lines of Odisha on the Kolkata-Chennai route till May 4, officials said.


Cyclone Fani: 223 trains cancelled till Saturday


Lightning during a thunderstorm killed eight persons in two districts of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday. Four persons were killed in Chandauli, while one person died in Sonebhadra.


Lighting kills 8 in Uttar Pradesh


Extremely severe cyclone storm cyclone Fani, which hit Odisha coast near Puri on Friday morning, triggered heavy rains in parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh, while gusty winds uprooted trees and electricity poles, officials said.


Cyclone Fani triggers heavy rains, gales in Andhra


The impact of the category 4 severe cyclonic storm Fani's landfall has started on the Odisha coast with wind velocity of 150 to 175 kmph and at a few places even higher, said the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday morning.


Cyclone Fani: Impact of landfall begins in Odisha


With less than 24 hours left for Cyclone Fani to make landfall in neighbouring Odisha coast, the West Bengal government and civic bodies on Thursday worked on war footing to cope with the storm set to travel across state starting early Saturday.


Bengal braces for stormy weekend as Fani approaches


Parts of north coastal Andhra Pradesh started receiving heavy rains on Thursday as the extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' in the Bay of Bengal neared the coast and was likely to make a landfall near Puri on Odisha on Friday, officials said.


'Fani' impact brings rains to north coastal Andhra


Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday reviewed the preparedness for cyclone 'Fani' and instructed Central government officials to maintain close coordination with officials of the affected states to ensure preventive measures, a government statement said.

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