Eastern coast on high-alert as 'extremely severe' cyclone Fani approaches,0

Guwahati, May 2, 2019:

The eastern coast of India is on high alert as the 'extremely severe' cyclone Fani is expected to hit the Indian coasts very soon.

As a consequence, at least 102 trains have been canceled and at least four have been diverted.

The national transporter said it will grant a full refund to passengers for the canceled or diverted trains if tickets are produced for cancellation within three days from the scheduled date of journey.

A special train has started from Puri at 12 noon, going towards Shalimar in Kolkata. It has reserved as well as unreserved accommodation.

It will stop at Khurda Road, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jajpur, Kendujhar Road, Bhadrak, Baleswar, and Kharagpur.

Two other special trains will ferry passengers from Puri to Howrah.

Cyclone Fani is expected to hit south of Puri on Friday, a home ministry official said.

Around 900 cyclone shelters have been made ready to house evacuees.

Personnel of Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard and 78 teams of the National Disaster response Force (NDRF) have been requisitioned for deployment.