Cyclone Roanu 70 kms off Puri, brings heavy rains to Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 20: 

Cyclone Roanu, formed over west-central and adjoining northwest Bay of Bengal, currently lays centred about 70 km south-southeast off Puri coast and is well on its course to move away from Odisha tonight.

The system is moving at a fast pace of 20 kmph, according to Regional Meteorological Centre Director Sarat Sahu.

Under influence of the cyclone, rain or thundershower lashed most places in Odisha with many places experiencing heavy rainfall. While Paradip experienced 155 mm of rainfall, it was 88 mm in Puri. Bhubaneswar experienced a modest 32 mm.

Bhubaneswar based Meteorological Centre predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall at few places of the state with extremely heavy rainfall at one or two places over coastal Odisha and heavy rainfall at one or two places over interior Odisha over the next 24 hours.

In view of the cyclone, Local Cautionary Signal Number Three (LC-III has been replaced by Danger Signal No. V at all ports in Odisha.

Sea state continues to be rough and waves as high as 1.5 meters are being seen near Puri. People living in low lying areas have been evacuated as a precautionary measure.

Strong and gusty surface wind reaching 90-100 kmph and gusting up to 110 kmph are likely to prevail along and off south Odisha coast. Wind speed reaching 60-70 kmph and gusting up to 80 kmph are likely to prevail along and off north Odisha coast. Fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea, said the evening bulletin of the Meteorological Centre.

The cyclone is expected to make landfall near south Bangladesh coast between Khepupara and Cox Bazaar on May 22 morning, said IMD.