(Image source from: ZeeNews)

After causing havoc in Odisha, cyclonic storm Fani has made landfall in West Bengal, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Saturday.

The extremely severe cyclonic storm crossed Kharagpur and is likely to continue further in North-East direction with a wind speed of 90 km/hour.

Heavy rains along with a wind speed of 175 kmph battered Odisha as cyclone Fani made landfall close to the temple town of Puri on Friday morning, leaving a trail of destruction in the state. The impact of the cyclone Fani was felt in neighboring West Bengal including in the beach town of Digha and other areas.

The cyclone, which crossed Odisha coast close to Puri coast between 8 a.m and 10 a.m. with a maximum wind speed of around 175 Kmph, caused "huge damage" in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, and Khordha districts in the state.

According to the IMD, Fani has moved north-northeastwards at 20 kmph in the last six hours and weakened into a "severe cyclonic storm".

"It lay centered at 08:30 p.m. over coastal Odisha about 110 kilometer southwest of Midnapore in West Bengal, 80 kilometer southwest of Digha and 210 kilometer southwest of Kolkata," said a statement issued by the IMD. "It is very likely to continue to move north-northeastwards during next 12 hours and emerge into Gangetic West Bengal with a wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 105 kmph by the early morning of May 4," it added.

-Sangam Sowmya