BHUBANESWAR: Odisha Chief Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar on Monday asked collectors of all the 30 districts to protect the EVMs from any damage in the wake of the cyclonic storm ‘Fani,’
Fani is intensifying in the southeast Bay of Bengal and is expected to head towards Odisha coast on or after May 1.
Simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are being held in the state. The results will be declared on May 23.
Briefing reporters here in the evening, the CEO said: “We have already discussed the matter with district collectors and continuously monitoring situation arising out of the cyclonic storm to avoid any destruction in the strong rooms.”
He also said that the Election Commission of India was informed of the matter.
In the fourth phase on Monday, polling was held in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha constituencies and 41 Assembly segments under them. At least 66 per cent voters exercised their franchise.
According to IMD forecast, ‘Fani’ is at present located at 880 km southeast of Chennai and is expected to intensify into a very severe cyclonic storm by April 30.
Under its impact, light to moderate rainfall at few places very likely over south coastal Odisha on May 2 and heavy to very heavy rainfall at isolated places over coastal Odisha from May 3.
