Cyclone FANI: Tourists advised to leave Puri by tomorrow evening

Puri: In view of the impending Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’, Odisha Special Relief Commissioner Bishnupada Sethi has advised tourists to leave Puri by Thursday evening.

On the other hand, tour operators have been asked to cancel non-essential travel to the likely affected districts on May 3 and 4.

As per the Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) of the United States Navy, Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ is expected to make landfall near Udayagiri under Krushnaprasad block in Puri district around May 3 afternoon with a wind speed of about 185 kmph and pass through Khordha, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj districts.

Similarly, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that Cyclonic Storm ‘FANI’ is likely to cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, to the south of Puri around May 3 afternoon with maximum sustained wind of speed 175-185 kmph gusting to 205 kmph.