Aviation minister Suresh Prabhu directs airlines to extend help

Visakhapatnam/ New Delhi: Civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu requested airlines to offer assistance in rescue and relief operations after Supercyclone Fani strikes the Odisha coast on Friday.

“Alerted all concerned to be ready to deal with Cyclone Fani. Airports Authority of India issued alert to all coastal airports to ensure all precautions, SOPs (standard operating procedures) put in place immediately,” Mr Prabhu said in a Twitter post.

The operations of various domestic airlines have already been affec-ted due to the oncoming cyclone. Many airlines have issued a travel advisory, cancelling flig-hts to and from Visakh-apatnam on Thursday and from Bhubaneswar on Friday.