With an improved warning system, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has stood out with a neat job, aiding evacuation of lakhs of people, during the ongoing crisis management in the wake of “extremely severe’’ cyclonic storm ‘Fani’, reports Times of India.

IMD’s new regional hurricane model, part of India’s ‘zero casualty’ focus on cyclones, managed to get a very high accurate tracking and forecasting of the landfall, averting a heavier toll. The 1999 cyclone took a heavy toll of over 10,000 people and devastated thousands of homes in the countryside region of the state.

Better coordination between Center and state and the highest ever deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel - 65 teams with every team comprising 45 members & 38 of them in Odisha - limited the casualties. Over 11.5 lakh people were evacuated to safer shores in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Additional teams for road clearance, law and order and dry foods have also been rushed.

Three columns of Army were on standby in Gopalpur and elements of engineering task force in Panagarh. Navy deployed six ships and kept its medical and diving teams on alert. The Indian Air Force (IAF) also kept two of its C-17s, two C-130s and four AN-32s on standby.

According to media reports, as many as 14 people were killed due to the cyclone Fani, which has entered Bangladesh, in India.