Authorities in Vizag step up vigil as Cyclone Fani is predicted to intensify

With the Cyclone ‘Fani’ likely to intensify into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm in the coming hours, the authorities in Vizag have reportedly stepped up the vigil. The forecast predicts Cyclone ‘Fani’ to cause heavy showers at a few places in the Vizag district on 30 and 1 May. With the weather experts in Vizag and Hyderabad alerting those in low-lying areas, the personnel across the district have been gearing up to tackle any situation, it has been reported.

As reported by Eenadu, Revenue Official R Gunnayya informed that a control room will be working round the clock at the Collectorate with a toll-free number 1800 4250 0002. The fishermen have been advised against venturing into the sea while those who are in the sea, have been told to return at the earliest. The DRO advised the citizens to stay alert and safe over the next few days.

“The Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ (pronounced as ‘FONI’) over southeast Bay of Bengal & neighbourhood moved northwards with a speed of about 04 kmph in last 06 hours and lay centred at 0530 hrs IST of 29th April 2019 near Lat. 8.6°N and Long. 86.9°E over southeast Bay of Bengal & neighbourhood, about 620 km east of Trincomalee (Sri Lanka), 880 km southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu) and 1050 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It is very likely to intensify into a Severe Cyclonic Storm during the next 12 hours and into a Very Severe Cyclonic Storm during subsequent 24 hours. It is very likely to move northwestwards till 01st May evening and thereafter re-curve north-northeastwards gradually,” read an IMD bulletin released at 8.30 am on Monday.