Authorities Evacuate Over 1Mln People As Cyclone Fani Makes Landfall In E. India - Reports

NEW DELHI (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd May, 2019) The authorities of India's eastern Odisha state evacuated over 1 million people as Cyclone Fani made landfall close to the city of Puri in the early hours of Friday, local media reported.

The NDTV broadcaster reported, citing the India Meteorological Department, that the landfall started at 08:00 a.m. (02:30 GMT) and was expected to continue for two hours.

The outlet added that wind speeds in the area reached 185 kilometers (115 miles) per hour.

According to the reports, the evacuations are underway in 11 coastal areas of Odisha due to Fani, which NDTV called the most severe storm since the strongest recorded tropical cyclone to hit the area back in 1999.

Moreover, Cyclone Fani resulted in 220 trains canceled and air traffic affected in the area.