Cyclone Fani made landfall yesterday in the coastal area of Odisha, India.

  • Death: Cyclone Fani—the strongest tropical cyclone to hit India since 1999—reached a wind speed of 200 km per hour. It reportedly killed eight people in Odisha.
  • Preparedness: Indian authorities had evacuated more than one million people along the coast of Odisha and had prepared sufficient shelters in advance. Military units were also placed on standby to manage any major catastrophe. The loss of human lives was, thus, contained due to good planning. The last major cyclone, in 1999, had killed more than 10,000 people.
  • Destruction: The major loss has been that of properties, particularly that of thatched huts and tin-roofed structures.
  • Compelled (iet) Bible school building in Bhubaneswar, Odisha (with tin-roof) has suffered major damages. Several believers’ homes have been damaged.
  • Bengal: The storm moved on towards West Bengal in India and then reached Bangladesh today, but with a reduced wind speed of 90 km per hour.
  • Relief Work: Compelled (iet) regional leaders are already in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. They are making plans with our local pastors and missionaries in that region to a) visit affected villages to pray and comfort those affected, b) to assess any need and engage in providing relief kits (food, clean water, basic medicines, essential items to manage life for first few weeks), as needed.

Praise Report: Praise God for limited human loss and reduced destruction in Bengal region. Praise God for the reduced wind speed once it reached Bengal and Bangladesh, thus limiting destruction in that region.

Prayer Report: Pray for i. the families who suffered human loss, ii. the people who will be returning to their villages, iii. for the reconstruction of IET’s bible school (to donate click here), iv. for our missionaries as they visit the affected village to pray with people and provide relief provisions, as needed.  May God comfort and may the people experience the love of God.