Page 105 - Disaster Accident
Packing furious winds, heavy rains, Cyclone Fani batters Odisha coast
Packing heavy rain and winds with speeds of up to 175 kmph, cyclonic storm 'Fani' slammed into the Odisha coast Friday morning, uprooting trees and sweeping away thatched huts, as large areas of the seaside pilgrim town of Puri were left submerged. The extremely severe cyclonic storm made landfall at around 8 a.m. in Puri but thanks to enough advance warning, about 11 lakh people had already been evacuated from vulnerable and low-lying areas of at least 11 coastal districts by Thursday. "It will take around three hours for the entire landfall process to be completed" by 11 a.m., Director of Regional Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas, said. The cyclonic system, whose eye is around 28 km wide, is moving at around 30 kmph, Biswas said. But within the system, the winds are reaching speeds of up to 175 kilometers per hour that may go up to 200 kmph, leaving in their wake uprooted trees and thatched structures, including in the state capital Bhubaneswar. High winds are also ..
Odisha, adjoining regions battered as cyclone Fani makes landfall
Odisha and adjoining regions were on Friday battered by extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani which made landfall in Puri district with a wind speed of around 245 kmph at 8 am, according to Hyderabad IMD."Fani centred near lat 19.8 & long 85.7 at 0930 IST of today close to Puri, latest observations indicate that the eye of cyclone has completely moved into land by 1000 hrs IST. Thus the cyclone crossed Odisha coast between 0800 - 1000 IST," tweeted India Meteorological Department (IMD).The landfall process will be completed by 10.30 am, the weather office said.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 ...
Cyclone Fani triggers heavy rains, gales in Andhra
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: Impact of landfall begins in Odisha
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 makes landfall in Puri, heavy rains batter coastal belt
Extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' made a landfall in Puri on Odisha coast Friday morning, triggering heavy rainfall coupled with high velocity winds with speed of 175 kmph in vast areas. Large areas in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri and other places were submerged with water as heavy rains battered the entire coastal belt of the state. Several trees were uprooted and thatched structures destroyed at some places including Bhubaneswar. "The cyclone has entered the Odisha coast at Puri around 8 am and it will take around three hours for the entire landfall process to be completed," Director of Regional Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas said. The cyclonic system, whose eye is around 28 km, is moving at around 30 kmph, Biswas said, adding the process of landfall is expected to be complete around 11 AM. Puri and neighbouring areas are experiencing wind with a speed of 175 kilometres per hour which may go up to 200 kmph. Under the impact of the cyclone, high velocity wind
Tremors felt in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi
An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 struck Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district early Friday, the meteorological said. The tremors were felt at 4.32 am and the epicentre of the earthquake was at a depth of 10 kilometre in northeast of Mandi, Shimla Meteorological Centre Director Manmohan Singh. He said mild tremors were also felt in the adjoining areas. No loss of life or property was reported, officials said. Most parts of Himachal Pradesh, including Mandi, fall in the high seismic sensitive zone and mild quakes are a regular feature in the region.
Cyclone Fani landfall process begins
The landfall process of the extremely severe cyclone Fani began on Friday morning with strong winds and rain hitting Puri district in Odisha. Strong winds have also hit Bhubaneswar."ESCS FANI about 25 km SSW of Puri at 0830 IST. To cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur & Chandbali close to Puri during 0800-1100 IST. Landfall started at 0800 hrs IST. Part of eye lies over land at 0830. Entire process of eye entering into land will be completed in next 2 hrs," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) tweeted.In a subsequent tweet it said, "Current wind speed of the cyclone is 175-185 kmph gusting to 195 kmph. Puri reported maximum sustained wind speed of 142 kmph gusting to 174 kmph at 7.30 hours today."HR Biswas, Director, Met office, Bhubaneswar earlier said that Fani will make a landfall between 8-11 am in Puri district.In the wake of the cyclonic storm, the Odisha administration has evacuated over 11 lakh people from the vulnerable districts since Thursday. More than 3 lakh ...
Cyclone Fani: 81 teams NDRF comprising over 4,000 personnel deployed
Over 4,000 specialised personnel as part of 81 NDRF teams have been deployed to deal with the 'extremely severe' cyclone 'Fani' which is likely to affect Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal upon its landfall on Friday. NDRF chief S N Pradhan told PTI that about 50 teams have been pre-positioned in the coastal areas of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal which are feared to be affected while another 31 teams have been kept on standby. Twenty-eight fully equipped teams have been deployed in and around Puri in Odisha as the cyclonic storm is expected to make a landfall there Friday noon, the NDRF Director General (DG) said. Similarly, 12 teams have been deployed in Andhra Pradesh and six in West Bengal. The rest of the teams, that comprise about 50 personnel each, have been kept on standby in these states. Pradhan said a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and a commandant-rank officer have also been tasked to monitor the activities of the rescue and relief teams from ground in Odisha's
Bengal braces for stormy weekend as Fani approaches
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.
Two children dead after tornado tips bouncy castle in China
Two children were killed in China after a tornado flipped over an inflatable bounce house in the northern province of Hebei on Thursday, state media reported, in the second such incident in two months. A tornado had struck a central plaza in Laiyuan county, overturning the bouncy castle in a freak accident that injured seven others, the Beijing Youth Daily said, citing local authorities. Pictures posted on social media by the newspaper showed a partially deflated bouncy castle toppled over several cars. Three people have been detained in connection with the incident and investigations are underway, the Beijing Youth Daily said. In April, a dust tornado sent an inflatable bounce house flying in central China, killing two children and injuring 18 others.
'Fani' impact brings rains to north coastal Andhra
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.
Delhi govt extends ban on manufacture, sale of gutkha, pan masala, tobacco products for one year
The Delhi government has extended the ban on manufacture, storage, sale or distribution of gutkha, pan masala and any other tobacco products for one year in the national capital. The Food Safety Department has issued a notification extending the ban on these products. The notification has been issued by Food Safety Commissioner L R Garg. "Commissioner (Food Safety), National Capital Territory of Delhi, prohibits in the interest of public health for a period of one year in NCT the manufacture, storage, distribution, or sale of tobacco which is either flavoured, scented or mixed with any of the said additives, and whether going by the name or form of gutkha, pan masala, flavoured/scented tobacco, kharra..." it stated. No such ban, however, will be enforced on cigarettes.
Meghalaya mine disaster: Consent letters for calling off search ops filed in SC
The Meghalaya government has filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court stating that the families of the victims, who were trapped inside a coal mine in December and are untraced till now, have consented to call off search operations, Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong said Thursday. On the morning of December 13, a group of 16 miners went missing after water from Lytein river gushed into an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Lumthari village of East Jaintia Hills district in the state. Only two bodies have been retrieved so far in the five-month-long search operation by teams of various agencies, including the NDRF, the Indian Navy and the Army. On January 28, the apex court had asked the Centre and the Meghalaya government to continue their multi-agency operations to trace the miners. "We have filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court informing that the family members of the miners have given their consent to call off the search and rescue operations. We are waiting for directions from ...
PM chairs high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Fani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review the preparedness ahead of Cyclone Fani.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), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Prime Minister Office PMO.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, the Prime Minister instructed senior officers of the Union Government to maintain close coordination with officers of the affected States, to ensure ...
Cyclone Fani likely hit Odisha coast on Friday
Cyclone 'Fani' is expected to make landfall on the Odisha coast between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Friday, said an official.
PM reviews preparedness for Cyclone Fani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness for Cyclone Fani. The prime minister was briefed on the likely path of the cyclone, and the ongoing precautionary and preparatory measures being undertaken, official sources said. These include 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, the prime minister instructed senior officersto maintain close coordination with officers of affected states, to ensure preventive measures, and also to take effective steps for relief and rescue operations, as required. 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 IMD, NDRF, NDMA and PMO. Cyclone Fani is expected to hit the coast of Odisha ...
Cyclone Fani: PM reviews preparedness; issues directions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting to review preparedness for cyclone Fani, which is going to hit Odisha and some other eastern coastal states on Friday, and instructed senior officers of the union government to ensure preventive measures and effective relief and rescue operations.
Cyclone Fani: Around 89 trains cancelled, 3 special trains put in service to evacuate tourists
The Railways Thursday said around 89 trains have been cancelled in the last two days in view of the 'extremely severe' cyclonic storm 'Fani', which is likely to affect Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal, while three special trains have been put into service to ferry stranded passengers from affected areas. The national transporter said it will grant full refund to passengers for the cancelled or diverted trains if tickets are produced for cancellation within three days from the scheduled date of journey. The Railways had cancelled 81 trains on Wednesday. The trains which have been cancelled include Howrah-Chennai Central Coromandal Express, Patna-Eranakulam Express, New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express, Howrah-Hyderabad East Coast Express, Bhubaneswar-Rameswaram Express. The New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express, New Delhi-Puri Nandan Kanan Express, Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express and the New Delhi-Puri Purushottam Express which had to begin their journeys Thursday have been
WB: NDRF, panchayat, local bodies meet to discuss Fani preparedness in Medinipur dist
Digha (West Bengal) [India], May 2 (ANI): A meeting was held here on Thursday among the members of Padima 1 village panchayat in Medinipur district to discuss preparedness in the wake of cyclonic storm Fani, which is expected to hit the coastal regions of West Bengal anytime after it hits the landmass in Odisha tomorrow.The meeting was headed by Yogesh Singh Sengar, Deputy Commandant (Second Battalion) of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), panchayat chief Keya Dole and deputy chief Kalyan Jana.Speaking to ANI, Yogesh Singh Sengar said: "May 3 to May 5 is going to be extremely crucial for this region as it faces the Bay of Bengal. We have asked people not to panic and help each other. Our team is fully prepared. We will be on the spot wherever needed. Awareness is most important."In the meeting, the members were requested to move people to nearby interim shelters, with special care for pregnant women.The immediate arrangements to be made once the cyclone hits the land have ..
AAI and Indian Railways make necessary arrangements in view of Cyclone Fani
The Airports Authority of India and Indian Railways have made necessary arrangements in view of the imminent cyclone Fani which could hit the Odisha coast on Friday afternoon.AAI has issued an alert to all coastal airports to ensure that all precautions and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are put in place.Earlier, AAI had a preparatory meeting with relevant stakeholders. The severe cyclonic storm FANI which is heading towards the Odisha coast is likely to affect operations of Trains and Flights.Indigo Airlines has cancelled all flights from and to Vishakhapatnam. "Due to Cyclone Fani, flights to/from Visakhapatnam have been cancelled for today (May 2)," Indigo said.Vistara airlines also issued an advisory to passengers which said, "In light of expected cyclone FANI which is likely to impact Bhubaneswar and Kolkata on May 2 and 3. We are waiving change and cancellation fee for Bhubaneswar and Kolkata flights for travel between May 2 and 5; fare difference, if any, will be ...