Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Cyclone Fani lashes India's eastern coast

A powerful cyclone has slammed into India's eastern coastline, bringing torrential rains and winds of up to 200 km/h (125mph).

Cyclone Fani, one of the most severe storms to hit the region in recent years, made landfall at 08:00 local time (02:30 GMT) on Friday.

More than one million people have been evacuated from the eastern state of Orissa, also called Odisha.

A state official said two people had been killed.

Flooding has also been reported in several areas, and forecasters say a storm surge of 1.5m (5ft) could threaten low-lying homes.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Around 800,000 people were evacuated along the eastern coast of India

The cyclone made landfall in the tourist town of Puri, which is home to the 858-year-old Jagannath temple.

It is expected to hit 15 districts in Orissa, one of India's poorest states, before weakening on Saturday.

What is the latest?

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption BBC Weather's Ben Rich has the latest update on the cyclone

Numerous flights and train services in and out of the state have been cancelled, while schools and government offices are shut. Operations at three ports on India's eastern coast have also been shut down.

Naval warships and helicopters are on standby with medical teams and relief materials. The country's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has also deployed several teams there.

India's National Disaster Management Authority has warned people along the east coast, especially fishermen, not to go out to sea because the conditions are "phenomenal".

The agency said the "total destruction of thatched houses" was possible, as well as "extensive damage" to other structures.

Image copyright EPA Image caption Cyclone Fani made landfall in Puri district and will continue moving to West Bengal and Tamilnadu

"I can confirm two deaths for now," Orissa special relief commissioner Bishnupada Sethi told AFP news agency.

"[A] man in one of the shelters died because of a heart attack. Another person went out in the storm despite our warnings and died because a tree fell on him," he said.

The cyclone is expected to move towards Chittagong in Bangladesh in a weaker form on Saturday.

It coincides with high tides in the country, which may exacerbate potential flooding issues there.

The port city of Cox's Bazar, where hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees live in camps with minimal shelter, is also on alert. But the cyclone is currently not expected to hit the camps unless it changes path, which is not thought likely.

How has India prepared?

In February the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) began distributing tarpaulins ahead of the region's "cyclone season" - but warned that if a deadly storm rolls in, shelters made of battered bamboo and shredded plastic would offer little protection.

The navy, the coast guard and the National Disaster Response Force have all been prepared for deployment.

Two ships with divers and doctors have been stationed at the southern port cities of Vishakapatnam and Chennai (formerly Madras), an official told local media.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Train services have been cancelled

In 2017, Cyclone Ockhi killed more than 200 people and displaced hundreds. In October last year, officials in Orissa evacuated hundreds of thousands of people when another cyclone struck.

But India has improved its protections and responses to these disasters in recent years. The state's most deadly cyclone on record took place in 1999, killing almost 10,000 people.

India's electoral commission has relaxed its rules about what the government can do during election periods so that the authorities can carry out relief work.

The country is in the middle of a multi-phased election which started last month.

Under normal circumstances the incumbent government has certain powers suspended, so that it can't announce new schemes or take new decisions during the voting period.

Although the election will continue until the end of May, Orissa has already voted.</s>Puri, Odisha: The landfall process of the most severe cyclone Fani that killed 10,000 people in Odisha began on Friday morning with strong winds and rain hitting Puri district in Odisha. Strong winds have also hit Bhubaneswar.

"ESCS FANI about 25 km SSW of Puri at 0830 IST. To cross Odisha coast between Gopalpur Chandbali close to Puri during 0800-1100 IST. Landfall started at 0800 hrs IST. Part of eye lies over land at 0830. Entire process of eye entering into land will be completed in next 2 hrs," the India Meteorological Department (IMD) tweeted.

In a subsequent tweet it said, "Current wind speed of the cyclone is 175-185 kmph gusting to 195 kmph. Puri reported maximum sustained wind speed of 142 kmph gusting to 174 kmph at 7.30 hours today."

In the wake of the cyclonic storm, the Odisha administration has evacuated over 11 lakh people from the vulnerable districts since Thursday. More than 3 lakh people have been evacuated from Ganjam district alone, followed by 1.3 lakh from Puri district where landfall is expected. About 5000 kitchens are operating to serve people in shelters.

The IMD has warned of a storm surge of about 1.5 metres which may inundate low-lying coastal areas of Ganjam, Khurda, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur districts at the time of landfall. The government said that 10,000 villages and 52 towns located in nine districts in Odisha will be affected.

The cyclonic storm is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross the Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri during forenoon with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph.

Puri, Gajapati, Ganjam, Khurda, Naygarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore are badly affected due to Cyclone Fani.

All flights to and from Kolkata have been cancelled until tomorrow morning in view of the impending severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' threat over the Bay of Bengal.

As rough sea weather conditions prevail in Bhadrak in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, which is the adjoining state, is also on high alert for any aftermath triggered by the cyclone fani.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took to Twitter to inform that she has cancelled all her election rallies for the next two days in the wake of 'impending' Cyclone Fani in her home state. "Have cancelled my rallies for the next 48 hours because of what could be an impending disaster #CyclonicStormFANI We are monitoring the situation 24x7 and doing all it takes. I appeal to all people to cooperate. Be alert, take care and stay safe for the next two days," she tweeted.

As many as 3,01,460 people have been evacuated from the district so far and 541 pregnant women have been shifted to hospitals safely. Fishermen in Penthakata village of Puri have left their houses for relief centers.

The home ministry has set up a control room and anyone who needs assistance or updates on Cyclone Fani can call on the helpline number 1938.</s>A massive operation was launched in Odisha Thursday to evacuate over eight lakh people from low-lying coastal areas as the extremely severe cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ moved closer to the eastern coast, officials said.

As per the latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Fani lay centered over West Central Bay of Bengal about 430 km south-southwest of Puri in Odisha, 225 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 650 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal.

It is likely to move north-northeastwards and cross the Odisha coast near Puri on May 3 evening with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph and gusting up to 200 kmph, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said.

The cyclone is being tracked by Doppler Weather Radars at Chennai, Vishakhapatnam and Machilipatnam, the SRC said.

People from low-lying and vulnerable areas of coastal districts are being shifted to safe places such as 880 cyclone centres, school and college buildings and other structures, he said.

According to the SRC, the evacuation of eight lakh people is the largest-ever evacuation operation in the country.

At least 14 Odisha districts – Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Khurda, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar – are likely to bear the brunt of the cyclone, which is also likely to impact Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Emphasizing that every life is precious, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the preparedness on Wednesday evening, said there was a need to give special attention to pregnant women, children, elderly people, and differently-abled persons.

Arrangements have been made to start free kitchens to provide cooked food to the evacuees, the SRC said.

Over one lakh dry food packets have been kept ready for air dropping in the areas to be affected by Fani, the most severe cyclonic storm since the super cyclone of 1999 that claimed close to 10,000 lives and devastated large parts of the state.

Navy, Air Force, Army, and Coast Guard have been put on high alert to meet any eventuality. Personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service have been sent to vulnerable areas to assist the administration, an official said.

The evacuation exercise from low lying areas will be completed by Thursday evening keeping in mind the forecast of massive tides that could surge up to 1.5 metres during the landfall, the SRC said.

The 880 cyclone shelters in coastal and southern districts have been kept ready to accommodate evacuees, he said.

In Gajapati and Rayagada districts, where such facilities do not exist, the evacuated people will be housed in schools and anganwadi centres.

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has cancelled over 103 trains for the safety and security of passengers in view of the cyclone, an ECoR official said.

Three special trains will run from Puri to Howrah and Shalimar in West Bengal on Thursday for the evacuation of tourists and passengers, he said, adding train services between Bhadrak and Vizianagaram are cancelled for at least two days from Thursday evening.

The IMD has forecast rainfall at most places, heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rain at isolated places in coastal Odisha and the interior districts of the state on May 3.

Several areas are likely to receive rainfall up to 20 cm under the impact of the cyclone, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas said.

As sea condition will be rough and phenomenal over Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha and West Bengal till May 4, fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea in this period.

Tourists have been asked to leave Puri by Thursday evening, while Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar will remain closed from May 2 to 4.

The higher education department has directed all state universities and colleges in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts to remain closed for three days from May 2.

All operations were stopped at Paradip Port and Cautionary Distant Warning Signal Number Three was hoisted in all ports in Odisha. The Third Stage warning is issued at least 24 hours in advance of adverse weather over coastal areas.</s>Around 800,000 people were evacuated by Thursday from villages along the eastern coast of India as the country braces for a cyclone that has already intensified into an extremely severe cyclonic storm.

Authorities have deployed thousands of rescuers and stationed seven warships with loads of relief material as Fani, moving with wind speeds of 200 kilometers per hour (124 miles per hour), is expected to make landfall in the coastal state of Odisha on Friday afternoon.</s>Cyclone Fani is heading towards the Odisha coast at a speed of 16 km per hour. As per the latest updates from the IMD, cyclone Fani is expected to have a landfall at somewhere between Puri and Satpada between 10 am and noon on Friday. At the time of landfall, it is likely to have a speed of 175-185 kmhr, gusting upto 200 kmhr.

Listen to Outlook's Odisha correspondent Sandeep Sahu as he explains how the state is bracing for the storm's landfall.</s>Odisha BJP leader Sambit Patra has posted a message on Twitter invoking the spiritual protection of Lord Jagannath against the force and fury of Cyclone Fani, which made landfall in Puri today with wind speeds in excess of 175 km per hour.

The BJP leader, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from the storm-hit Puri constituency earlier said "we are doing everything for the people of Odisha" and added his prayer to Lord Jagannath to that list today.

His first message, posted when Fani made landfall, read, "The process of landfall of #CycloneFani has begun... extremely high speed wind... heavy rain... the harrowing sound... reminds me of 1999 Supercyclone. With folded hands I pray to Lord Almighty Jagannath ji to give us the strength to endure this".

Fani, believed to be the strongest cyclonic storm to hit the state since the 1999 Super Cyclone that killed nearly 10,000 people, has already forced the closure of airports in Bhubaneswar and Kolkata in addition to the evacuation of over 14 lakh people and the cancellation of nearly 150 trains.

Mr Patra also wrote: "Everything is flying in (the) air... have literally turned deaf because of wind sound... all window panes broken... difficult indeed... if this is my condition in a concrete building I pray for the lives of millions".

The Indian Meteorological Department believes Fani is likely to weaken over the next few hours with wind speeds between 150 and 160 km per hour. It will move in a north-northeast direction and become a severe cyclonic storm over the extreme northern part of Odisha.

Puri voted on April 23, during the third phase of the ongoing general election, contesting against the Biju Janata Dal's Pinaki Misra (who holds the seat currently) and Satya Prakash Nayak of the Congress.

Election results will be declared on May 23.

Get the latest election news, live updates and election schedule for Lok Sabha Elections 2019 on ndtv.com/elections. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram for updates from each of the 543 parliamentary seats for the 2019 Indian general elections. Election results will be out on May 23.</s>Cyclone 'Fani' is expected to make landfall on the between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on Friday, said an

"We have received information from the (IMD) that the extremely severe cyclonic storm will make landfall near Puri on May 3, said the (SRC).

Speeding over West-central Bay of Bengal, Fani moved north-northeastwards at about 16 kmph in last six hours and lay centred about 360 km south-southwest of Puri (Odisha), 190 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) and 550 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal).

It will very likely to move further north-northeastwards and cross the around Puri, between Gopalpur and Chandbali, by May 3 afternoon with a maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph, the IMD said.</s>According to the SRC, the evacuation of eight lakh people is the largest-ever evacuation operation in the country.

Arrangements have been made to start free kitchens to provide cooked food to the evacuees, the SRC said. (Photo: PTI)

Bhubaneswar: A massive operation was launched in Odisha Thursday to evacuate over eight lakh people from low-lying coastal areas as the extremely severe cyclonic storm 'Fani' moved closer to the eastern coast, officials said.

As per the latest bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Fani lay centred over West Central Bay of Bengal about 430 km south-southwest of Puri in Odisha, 225 km south-southeast of Vishakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 650 km south-southwest of Digha in West Bengal.

It is likely to move north-northeastwards and cross the Odisha coast near Puri on May 3 evening with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph and gusting up to 200 kmph, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) B P Sethi said. The cyclone is being tracked by Doppler Weather Radars at Chennai, Vishakhapatnam and Machilipatnam, the SRC said.

People from low-lying and vulnerable areas of coastal districts are being shifted to safe places such as 880 cyclone centres, school and college buildings and other structures, he said.

According to the SRC, the evacuation of eight lakh people is the largest-ever evacuation operation in the country. At least 14 Odisha districts - Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Balasore, Bhadrak, Ganjam, Khurda, Jajpur, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Gajapati, Mayurbhanj, Dhenkanal and Keonjhar - are likely to bear the brunt of the cyclone, which is also likely to impact Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.

Emphasising that every life is precious, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who reviewed the preparedness on Wednesday evening, said there was a need to give special attention to pregnant women, children, elderly people and differently-abled persons.

Arrangements have been made to start free kitchens to provide cooked food to the evacuees, the SRC said. Over one lakh dry food packets have been kept ready for air dropping in the areas to be affected by Fani, the most severe cyclonic storm since the super cyclone of 1999 that claimed close to 10,000 lives and devastated large parts of the state.

Navy, Air Force, Army and Coast Guard have been put on high alert to meet any eventuality. Personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and fire service have been sent to vulnerable areas to assist the administration, an official said.

The evacuation exercise from low lying areas will be completed by Thursday evening keeping in mind the forecast of massive tides that could surge up to 1.5 metres during the landfall, the SRC said.

The 880 cyclone shelters in coastal and southern districts have been kept ready to accommodate evacuees, he said.

In Gajapati and Rayagada districts, where such facilities do not exist, the evacuated people will be housed in schools and anganwadi centres. The East Coast Railway (ECoR) has cancelled over 103 trains for the safety and security of passengers in view of the cyclone, an ECoR official said.

Three special trains will run from Puri to Howrah and Shalimar in West Bengal on Thursday for the evacuation of tourists and passengers, he said, adding train services between Bhadrak and Vizianagaram are cancelled for at least two days from Thursday evening.

The IMD has forecast rainfall at most places, heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places and extremely heavy rain at isolated places in coastal Odisha and the interior districts of the state on May 3.

Several areas are likely to receive rainfall up to 20 cm under the impact of the cyclone, Director of the Meteorological Centre in Bhubaneswar, H R Biswas said. As sea condition will be rough and phenomenal over Northwest Bay of Bengal off Odisha and West Bengal till May 4, fishermen have been advised not to venture into sea in this period.

Tourists have been asked to leave Puri by Thursday evening, while Nandankanan Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar will remain closed from May 2 to 4.

The higher education department has directed all state universities and colleges in Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts to remain closed for three days from May 2.

All operations were stopped at Paradip Port and Cautionary Distant Warning Signal Number Three was hoisted in all ports in Odisha. The Third Stage warning is issued at least 24 hours in advance of adverse weather over coastal areas.</s>The impact of the category 4 severe cyclonic storm Fani's landfall has started on the with wind velocity of 150 to 175 kmph and at a few places even higher, said the (IMD) on Friday morning.

"The process of cyclone Fani's landfall in Puri will take place from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.," said

It's eye diameter is 28 km now. Half of Fani's eye is in the sea right now, said IMD.

The landfall process is very likely to continue till noon on Friday.

The already rough sea in Puri is turbulant. Evacuation has been carried out till 5 km of the beach area. Even the calm sea in Chandipur is violent, officials said.

It is very likely to move north-northeastwards and cross between Gopalpur and Chandbali, south of Puri during May 3 forenoon with maximum sustained wind speed of 170-180 kmph gusting to 200 kmph.

Nearly 11 lakh people have been evacuated from the vulnerable areas to safer places in last 24 hours in Odisha. Ganjam and Puri districts have evacuated more than 3 lakh and 1.3 lakh people, respectively.

Although the evacuation were extremely difficult given that people were not ready to laeve their house and belongings. Relief workers had a tough time, speaking to news channels several complained.</s>Cyclone Fani update: Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani, which is travelling northwestward at 11 km per hour, is likely to make landfall in Odisha’s Puri district on Friday. The stretch of coast from Bhubaneswar in Odisha to Kolkata in West Bengal could experience 125-250 mm rain until Saturday. A ýellow warning has been issued for Odisha cost. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Coast Guard have been put on high alert and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea. Fani is currently a Category 4 (Extremely Severe) Cyclonic Storm.

The disaster management division of the home ministry has said that Cyclone Fani is likely to move northwards on till May 1 noon and thereafter recurve north-northeastwards and Odisha coast between Gopalpur and Chandbali. From there it will move to the south of Puri around May 3 afternoon with maximum sustained wind of speed 175-185 km per hour gusting to 205 km per hour, the ANI reported.

The IMD has also warned that gale wind speed 150-160 km per hour gusting to 170 could be experienced in Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara districts of Odisha. Recently, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had met Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora and requested him to postpone the Patkura assembly election in view of Cyclone Fani. Polling in Patkura is scheduled to be held on May 19, 2019. Odisha has sounded a red alert in 17 districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recommended extensive evacuation from coastal areas as the storm is likely to cause extensive damage to kutcha houses, rail and road connectivity, power supply and fishing in Ganjam, Gajapati, Khurda, Puri, Jagatsinghpur districts of Odisha; east and west Medinipur, south and north 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hoogli, Kolkata districts of West Bengal and Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam and Vijayanagaram districts of Andhra Pradesh.
Evacuation of approximately 800,000 people is underway as Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Fani heads toward the Indian state of Odisha (formerly Orissa) and is expected to make landfall Friday with wind speeds in excess of 200 km/h (127 mph).