Odisha govt cancels leaves of officials of 5 dists for impending cyclonic storm

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Government today canceled leaves of all field officials of five southern districts in view of possible rain due to an impending cyclonic storm over the southwest Bay of Bengal.

As per the order, the leaves of agriculture officials of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam were canceled for five days from December 2 to 6 including Sunday for the possible disaster due to the forecasted cyclone.

The officials have been directed to remain alert during the warning period from December 2 to 6 and sensitize the farmers to take appropriate steps to protect paddy and other crops.

Advisory: 

1. Districts under orange/yellow warning to keep administrative machinery ready to face any eventuality particularly waterlogging/landslide in the hilly areas.

2. In case of heavy to very heavy rain in urban areas, low-lying areas may have waterlogging and roads/drains may be submerged under water.

3. In case of very heavy rain, people of low-lying areas may be shifted to safer locations temporarily, if required.

4. People may be advised to keep watch on the weather and take safe shelter during the thunderstorm activity.

5. Advice for fishermen to be strictly implemented.

6. Farmers may be advised to follow the advisory issued by OUAT/Director of Agriculture & FP and to take necessary measures to protect the vegetables, horticulture crops, standing paddy crops, harvested crop and paddy in mandis.

7. Heavy to very heavy rainfall recorded may be reported immediately to the office.

8. Situation report on heavy rainfall may be submitted immediately for information of the government.

As per the IMD bulletin, the depression over Southwest Bay of Bengal moved west-northwestwards with a speed of 18 kmph during past 06 hours, intensified into a deep depression and lay centered at 0530 hours IST of today, the 2nd December 2023 over the same region near Latitude 10.5°N and Longitude 84.1°E, about 500 km east-southeast of Puducherry, 510 km east-southeast of Chennai, 630 km southeast of Nellore, 710 km south-southeast of Bapatla and 710 km south-southeast of Machilipatnam.

It is likely to move west-northwestwards, intensify into a Cyclonic Storm over Southwest Bay of Bengal during next 24 hours. Thereafter, it would move northwestwards and reach westcentral Bay of Bengal off south Andhra Pradesh and adjoining north Tamil Nadu coasts by 4th December forenoon. Thereafter, it would move nearly northwards almost parallel and close to south Andhra Pradesh coasts and cross South Andhra Pradesh coasts between Nellore and Machilipatnam during forenoon of 5th December as a Cyclonic Storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 80-90 kmph gusting to 100 kmph.

Under the influence of cyclonic storm, districts in southern region of Odisha are likely to receive heavy rainfall from December 4 to 6.

The IMD issued Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) warning for one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam on December 4.

The orange warning has been issued for several districts for December 5. As per the warning, Heavy to very heavy rainfall (7 to 20cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam. The yellow warning has been issued for one or two places over the districts of Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, and Puri.

Further, Heavy rainfall (7 to 11cm) very likely to occur at one or two places over the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Puri, Nayagarh, Khordha, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kandhamal and Rayagada during December 6 to 7.

Wind warning: Squally wind speed reaching 35-45 kmph gusting to 55 kmph likely from 4th December evening along and off Odisha coast (Gajapati, Ganjam, Puri, and Jagatsinghpur), likely to gradually increase becoming 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph from 5th December evening for subsequent 12 hours. It would gradually decrease thereafter. Also, strong surface wind speed reaching 30-40 kmph gusting to 50 kmph likely over Malkangiri, Koraput and Rayagada districts of Odisha on 5th December.

Fishermen were advised not to venture into deep sea areas of southwest Bay of Bengal till 4th December and West Central Bay of Bengal during 2nd to 5th December, along & off Odisha coast from 4th December evening till further notice. Fishermen whoever out at sea is advised to return to coast during 12hours.

The IMD has given Distant Cautionary Signal No. – I (DC-1) at all ports of Odisha for the cyclone.