Bhubaneswar: To avoid any damage to the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the cyclonic storm ‘Fani’, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Surendra Kumar informed that sufficient steps will be taken to protect them.
Cyclonic storm ‘Fani’ has been intensifying in the southeast Bay of Bengal and is expected to head towards the Odisha coast on/after May 1.
“We have already discussed the matter with District Collectors and the monitoring situation arising out of the cyclonic storm, to avoid any destruction in the strong rooms,” said the CEO.
The Election Commission of India has also been informed about the matter.
Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Bishnupada Sethion on Monday, said that as informed by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), there will be rainfall in coastal Odisha from May 2, with squally wind speeds reaching 40-50 kmph with gusting up to 60 kmph along and off the north Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts.
“May 3 onwards, the wind speed is likely to be 130-140 kmph, with gusting up to 150 kmph over the west-central Bay of Bengal off the Andhra Pradesh coast and 50-60 kmph with gusting up to 70 kmph along and off the Odisha coast,” he said.
He also said that IMD has informed the state government that it would provide updates on the cyclonic storm till May 4. Besides, it will also inform about its course of movement after the landfall after May 4.
