Cyclone Fani: Govt to evacuate 800,000 people to safer places by evening

Vulnerable population from thirteen low-lying districts will be evacuated; 250,000 people had been evacuated by 2 pm today

As cyclonic storm Fani inches closer to making landfall in Odisha, the state government has begun the evacuation of vulnerable population from low-lying areas in 13 districts to safer places.

The government is planning to evacuate 800,000 people by Thursday evening, below the 900,000 people evacuated during tropical cyclone Phailin that hit the state in 2013.

“The process of evacuation of people has already started. Safety and security of people will be given the highest priority. About 0.8 million people are targeted to be evacuated and steps are being taken by the districts collectors accordingly”, Krupa Sindhu Mishra, spokesperson, SRC’s