Cyclone Fani LIVE updates: Flight operations resume at Kolkata and Bhubaneswar airports 

As cyclone 'Fani' has moved away, flight operations resumed at Kolkata and Bhubaneswar airports on Saturday, said ministry of civil aviation.

"Flight operations to and from Bhubaneswar airport has resumed. Alliance Air flight from Ranchi is the first flight to land," tweeted the ministry on Saturday at 4.26 pm.

Alliance Air is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India. It mainly operates domestic routes under regional connectivity scheme UDAN.

Kolkata airport, owned and managed by Airports Authority of India (AAI), also tweeted that flight operations have resumed.

At least 14 people were killed and 63 others injured as severe cyclone Fani barrelled into Bangladesh on Saturday, a day after leaving a trail of destruction in neighbouring India, media reports said on Saturday.

Bangladesh authorities said that more than1.6 million people have been shifted to safer places as about 36 villages were flooded after the storm surge breached embankments in country's coastal areas.

The deaths were reported from eight districts, including Noakhali, Bhola and Lakshmipur that were among the places worst-hit by the cyclone, the Dhaka Tribune reported.

A record of 1.2 million people were evacuated in 24 hours, 3.2 lakh from Ganjam, 1.3 lakh from Puri & almost 7000 kitchens catering to 9000 shelters were made functional overnight. This mammoth exercise involved more than 45,000 volunteers, said Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

Telecommunication network in Cuttack, Puri, Bhubaneswar disrupted after Cyclone Fani made a landfall on Friday

Air India has announced additional flight on Saturday (Delhi-Bhubaneswar at 1500 hrs and Bhubaneswar-Delhi at 1745 hrs) for passengers stranded due to cyclonic storm

Most parts of Assam witnessed incessant rains on Saturday due to the impact of cyclone Fani, one of the strongest storms to batter the Indian subcontinent in decades.

Following the rains, the state government has issued an alert to suspend ferry services between Jorhat and Majuli, Guwahati and North Guwahati, Dhubri and other places from Saturday to Sunday.

Cyclone Fani has weakened and is covering areas of West Bengal in the form of cyclone. It is further moving towards Bangladesh. The situation is under control and there is not much damaging effect. 9 teams of NDRF are present in West Bengal, says Pradeep Kumar Rana, DIG Operations,NDRF

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 extremely severe cyclonic storm Fani made landfall near the coastal city of Puri.

The powerful cyclone, strongest to hit India in 20 years, made landfall at around 8 AM in India's eastern state of Odisha, killing at least eight people.

At least 10 persons killed due to impact of Cyclone Fani in Odisha

Air India announces, it will ship relief material to cyclone affected Odisha free of cost.

Air India to re commence operations at Kolkata airport at 09.45 am. National carrier Air India also stepped forward to help the residents of Odisha affected by Cyclone Fani. If any (NGO/ Civil society/ SHG etc) wants to send relief materials to cyclone affected area of Odisha, Air India would ship it free of cost.

NSUI Goa President, Ahraz Mulla has written a letter to the President, Prime Minister and Union HRD Ministry requesting them to postpone NEET exam, in view of difficulties faced by students due to cyclone 'Fani' in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.

"NEET exam for medical entrance needs a lot of concentration and dedication with the preparation of at least 2 years. The cyclone FANI that has reached the coastal belt of East India has created destruction, with no power supply and other unavailability of other basic needs," the letter reads.

"The students have dedicated 2 years to clear this test, but due to the cyclone it would not be right to conduct this test for the entire country considering the fact that it is an All India Exam with admission based on merit," the letter further stated.

Cyclone Fani turned direction from Kharagpur in West Midnapore district to slowly enter Bangladesh around 6:00 am and will completely emerge into Bangladesh by 12:00pm.

Severe Cyclone Fani weakened into a cyclonic storm and lay centered at 60 km NW of Kolkata at 0530 IST of 4th May. It will weaken into Deep Depression and move into Bangladesh by noon.

According to FirstPost, Based on latest weather update flight operations to resume at Kolkata Airport from 8am today. Airport authority has advised passengers to check with the concerned airlines for any changes in the flight timings.

“Spoke to Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik Ji and discussed the situation prevailing due to Cyclone Fani. Assured continuous support from the Central Government in the wake of the cyclone. The entire nation stands in solidarity with all those affected by the cyclone in different parts,” tweeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Rain lashes Kolkata as Cyclone Fani hit West Bengal by crossing Kharagpur earlier on Saturday