United Nations hails India’s handling of cyclone Fani

United Nations: The UN agency for disaster reduction has commended the Indian Meteorological Department’s “almost pinpoint accuracy” of early warnings that helped authorities conduct a well-targeted evacuation plan and minimise the loss of life as cyclone Fani made a landfall.

“India’s zero casualty approach to managing extreme weather events is a major contribution to the implementation of the #SendaiFramework and the reduction of loss of life from such events,” Mami Mizutori, the special representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction, and head of the Geneva-based UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction said.

The powerful cyclone, strongest to hit India in 20 years, made landfall at around 8 am in Odisha, killing at least 12 people.

Large areas in the seaside pilgrim town of Puri and other places were submerged as heavy rains battered the entire coastal belt of the state affecting about 11 lakh people. The IMD  has classified Fani as an “extremely severe cyclonic storm”. The cyclone lashed the coast with maximum wind speeds of up to 175 kmph, heavy rainfall and coastal flooding, with 28 million people living along the route of the massive storm.