#CycloneFani strikes West Bengal: Heavy rain batters Kolkata; trees uprooted

Cyclone Fani has relatively weakened as it entered West Bengal; it has now been categorized as "very severe" after remaining in the "extremely severe" cyclonic storm category.

The cyclone will next move towards Bangladesh next but at a reduced speed of 90km/hour. Cyclone Fani had touched a speed of 185km/hour at its strongest as it devastated Odisha on Friday.

While the Kolkata airport reportedly resumed operations as per schedule at 8 am on Saturday, the movement of some trains in the state could be affected due to snapped power lines and broken trees on the tracks.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department also warned the north-eastern states to be on alert as Cyclone Fani is likely to enter the north-eastern region after crossing Bangladesh.

"I assure the affected people that the nation and the Center are with them," said PM Narendra Modi at a rally in Rajasthan. The Center released over Rs. 1,000 crore in advance for the affected states, he said.

He will visit Odisha on Monday. "...I will be going to Odisha to take stock of the situation...in the wake of Cyclone Fani," he tweeted.