Odisha braces for possible cyclone; officials on alert

Bhubaneswar: The deep depression over Bay of Bengal is very likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm during the next 24 hours and trigger heavy rainfall and squally winds across Odisha.

“The deep depression over eastcentral Bay of Bengal moved further west-northwestwards with a speed of about 11 kmph in last 03 hours, at 0230 hrs IST, 9th October 2018 near latitude 14.6°N and longitude 87.3°E, about 570 km southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha) and 530 km southeast of Kalingapatnam (Andhra Pradesh). It is very likely to intensify into a Cyclonic Storm during next 24 hours,” a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.

It is very likely to move west-northwestwards for some more time and then northwestwards towards Odisha & adjoining north Andhra Pradesh coasts during next 72 hours, the bulletin added.

Rainfall Predictions:

October 9- Isolated heavy rainfall likely in Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts.

October 10- Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely to occur over districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore.

October 11- Heavy to very heavy rainfall at a few places with isolated extremely heavy rainfall very likely to occur over districts of Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, Kandhamal, Boudh, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Khurda, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Bhadrak and Balasore.

October 12- Heavy rainfall at isolated places likely to occur over Balasore, Bhadrak and Mayurbhanj districts.

Wind warning:

Squally wind speed reaching 45-55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph is very likely to commence along & off along north Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal coast on October 9th afternoon.

It is very likely to increase gradually becoming 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph from 10th October evening onwards along & off south Odisha & adjoining districts of north Andhra Pradesh coasts and 55-65 kmph gusting to 75 kmph along & off north Odisha, west Bengal and remaining districts of north Andhra Pradesh coasts.

On the other hand, the Odisha government has directed District Collectors to remain alert over the likely formation of a cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal by October 10. The office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) wrote to all District Collectors to keep the official machinery in full preparedness to meet any eventuality.

“In view of the cyclone forecast, please alert all concerned and keep the administrative machinery in full preparedness to meet any eventuality. All officers to remain in headquarters and not to avail of leave till the cyclone situation is over,” said the letter.