Chennai: Very severe cyclonic storm Fani began to cross the Odisha coast around 8 this morning. According to the Met department, wind speeds were reaching up to 150-175 kmph or more in some places.
The eye of the storm that is 30 km in diameter, is likely to cross the coast around 12 noon, said the Indian Meteorological Department.
The storm has also brought heavy rain and parts of coastal town Puri have been inundated.
Neighbouring Andhra Pradesh has also been affected with heavy winds bringing down trees in several coastal areas.
Cyclone Fani is the strongest cyclonic storm since the Super Cyclone of 1999, which left nearly 10,000 people dead and wrecked Odisha. The Meteorological Department says Fani is the first cyclonic storm of such severity in April in India’s oceanic neighbourhood in 43 years.