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Cyclone Fani: Special trains to evacuate stranded tourists of Assam from Odisha

Elaborate arrangements are being made by the authorities in Odisha to tackle any kinds of emergency, amid the alert sounded by the Government and disaster management agencies over cyclone ‘Fani’.

The Odisha government has arranged special trains to evacuate tourists and devotees from Assam who are stranded in Odisha. Three special trains have been pressed into service to bring back the stranded tourists from the coastal State.

Fate of as many as 130 pilgrims, majority from Baksa district of Assam hangs in balance as cyclone ‘Fani’ is expected to make landfall in Puri by Friday.

The pilgrims are staying at the Assam Yatri Niwas in Puri, a lodge-cum-tourist home for devotees from Assam visiting Puri.

Speaking to Northeast Live, manager of the Yatri Niwas, Madhav Chandra Mahapatra said that 30 pilgrims are scheduled to leave Puri today but with several trains cancelled, 103 so far, it is not sure if they will be able to leave the place.

Meanwhile, as many as 19 districts of Odisha, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are likely to be hit by cyclone Fani. East Coast Railway cancelled 22 trains on Wednesday, taking the total to 103 trains.

In this regard the IMD has issued a “Yellow Alert” warning for Odisha, West Bengal and three districts of Andhra Pradesh.

In a special bulletin issued on Wednesday, the weather department has forewarned about possible destruction. Fishermen have been asked not to venture in the sea for fishing from May 1 to May 5.

Northeast Live Digital Desk