New Delhi: As the cyclone Storm ‘FANI’ intensifies into a Severe Cyclonic Storm over South East and adjoining South West Bay of Bengal and lie about 770 km East-South-East of Chennai at 1730 hrs on 29 Apr 19, the Eastern Naval Command(ENC) has assumed high degree of readiness to render necessary humanitarian assistance. Indian Naval ships at Visakhapatnam and Chennai are standing-by to proceed to the most affected areas to undertake Humanitarian Aid Distress Relief (HADR), evacuation, logistic support including providing medical aid. These ships are embarked with additional divers, doctors, inflatable rubber boats and relief material that include food, tentage, clothes, medicines, blankets etc, in quantities sufficient. Naval aircraft are also standing by at the Naval Air Stations INS Rajali at Arakkonam, Tamilnadu and INS Dega at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh to undertake reconnaissance, rescue, casualty evacuation and airdrop of relief material to the stranded if required.
ENC is monitoring the developments in the Bay of Bengal closely and Flag Officer Tamilnadu & Puducherry Naval Area (FOTNA) and Naval Officers-in-Charge (Andhra Pradesh) and (Odisha) are in constant communication with respective State Administrations to augment rescue and relief operations as needed.
Warnings:
Heavy rainfall warning
· North Andhra Pradesh: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over north coastal Andhra Pradesh (Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram Districts) on 2nd May and rainfall at most places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places on 3rd May.
· Odisha: Light to moderate rainfall at many places with heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places very likely over south coastal Odisha on 2nd May. It is likely to increase with rainfall at most places and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls (>20 cm) at isolated places over coastal Odisha & its adjoining districts of interior Odisha on 3rd and over north Odisha on 4th May.
· West Bengal: Light to moderate rainfall at most places with heavy falls at isolated places very likely over coastal districts of West Bengal on 3rd and heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with extremely heavy falls at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal on 4th May.
Wind warning
· Gale wind speed reaching 145-155 kmph gusting to 170 kmph is prevailing over Southwest Bay & adjoining Southeast of Bengal. It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph over Westcentral & adjoining Southwest Bay of Bengal off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coast from 1st May morning onwards.
· Strong wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph very likely along & off Tamilnadu & Puducherry coast, Comorin area, Gulf of Mannar and Kerala on 30th.
· Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely to commence along & off north Andhra Pradesh & Odisha Coasts from 2nd May and very likely to become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3rd May morning and become 175-185 kmph gusting 205 kmph over Odisha Coast and 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph over adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh by 3rd May evening.
· Squally wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph is very likely along & off West Bengal coast on 2nd May. It would become gale wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph gusting to 85 kmph from 3rd May evening and become 90-100 kmph gusting to 115 kmph from 4th May morning.
Sea condition
· The sea condition is phenomenal over Southwest Bay and adjoining Southeast & west central Bay of Bengal, off north Tamilnadu, Puducherry and south Andhra Pradesh Coasts. It is very likely to be phenomenal over the westcentral Bay of Bengal during 1-3 May 2019 and over Northwest Bay of Bengal during 2-4 May.
· Sea conditions very likely to be very rough to high along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coasts during 1-3 May and high to phenomenal along & off Odisha and West Bengal Coasts during 2-4 May.
Storm surge Warning
· Storm surge of about 1.5-meter height above astronomical tide is very likely to inundate low lying areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri & Jagatsinghpur Districts of Odisha at the time of landfall.
Fishermen Warning
· The fishermen are advised not to venture into deep sea areas of Southwest & adjoining southeast Bay of Bengal on 30th April; Southwest & adjoining west central Bay of Bengal, along & off Puducherry, north Tamilnadu & south Andhra Pradesh coasts till 1st May; west central Bay of Bengal, along & off north Andhra Pradesh Coast during 1-3 May 2019 and northwest & adjoining west central Bay of Bengal along & off Odisha and West Bengal coasts from 2-4 May.
· Those, who are out in deep sea above areas are advised to return to the coasts.
(a) Damage Expected and Action suggested for Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha.
(i) Extensive damage to all types of kutcha houses, some damage to old badly managed Pucca structures. The potential threat from flying objects. (ii) Extensive uprooting of communication and power poles. (iii) Disruption of rail/road link at several places. (iv) Extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards. (v) Blowing down of Palm and coconut trees. (vi) The uprooting of large bushy trees. (vii) Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings.
Action Suggested:
(i)Total suspension of fishing operations. (ii) Extensive evacuation from coastal areas. (iii) Diversion or suspension of rail and road traffic. (iv) People in affected areas to remain indoors. (v) Movement in motor boats and small ships not advisable.
(b) Damage Expected and action suggested for Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Balasore districts of Odisha and east & west Medinipur, south & north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts of West Bengal and Srikakulam and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh
(i) Extensive damage to all types of kutcha houses, some damage to old badly managed Pucca structures. The potential threat from flying objects. (ii) Extensive uprooting of communication and power poles. (iii) Disruption of rail/road link at several places. (iv) Extensive damage to standing crops, plantations, orchards. (v) Blowing down of Palm and coconut trees. (vi) The uprooting of large bushy trees. (vii) Large boats and ships may get torn from their moorings.