A depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified into a deep depression on Sunday and is gradually moving towards the east coast, prompting the Odisha government to put all 30 districts on alert.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the system is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, during the evening or night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm. Maximum sustained winds are expected at 90-100 kmph, with gusts up to 110 kmph. Odisha is expected to witness very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 28 and 29.
Red, orange, and yellow alerts have been issued for several southern and coastal districts, with rainfall above 20 cm possible at isolated locations.
Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said all districts have been placed on alert, and personnel and equipment are ready for rescue and relief operations. District Collectors have been directed to evacuate residents from low-lying and vulnerable areas. He added that 15 districts in coastal and southern Odisha are likely to be most affected.
In view of the situation, seven districts have cancelled government employees’ leaves to ensure readiness.
The IMD said the depression, moving west-northwest at 10 kmph, was located around 610 km west of Port Blair, 790 km east-southeast of Chennai, 850 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 840 km southeast of Kakinada, and 950 km south-southeast of Gopalpur as of 5.30 am on Sunday. It is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal within 24 hours and further strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28.
Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and follow official advisories.
(With inputs from PTI)
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast that the system is likely to cross the Andhra Pradesh coast near Kakinada, between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam, during the evening or night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm. Maximum sustained winds are expected at 90-100 kmph, with gusts up to 110 kmph. Odisha is expected to witness very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall on October 28 and 29.
Red, orange, and yellow alerts have been issued for several southern and coastal districts, with rainfall above 20 cm possible at isolated locations.
Odisha’s Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said all districts have been placed on alert, and personnel and equipment are ready for rescue and relief operations. District Collectors have been directed to evacuate residents from low-lying and vulnerable areas. He added that 15 districts in coastal and southern Odisha are likely to be most affected.
In view of the situation, seven districts have cancelled government employees’ leaves to ensure readiness.
The IMD said the depression, moving west-northwest at 10 kmph, was located around 610 km west of Port Blair, 790 km east-southeast of Chennai, 850 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam, 840 km southeast of Kakinada, and 950 km south-southeast of Gopalpur as of 5.30 am on Sunday. It is expected to intensify into a cyclonic storm over the southwest and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal within 24 hours and further strengthen into a severe cyclonic storm by the morning of October 28.
Authorities have urged residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and follow official advisories.
(With inputs from PTI)
