Odisha watches with bated breath as cyclone Amphan intensifies

Bhubaneswar:  With the well marked low pressure over southeast Bay of Bengal has intensified into depression over the same region, the cyclonic storm Amphan, which is brewing in the sea, likely to make a landfall in West Bengal coast.

As per preliminary observation by India Meteorological Department (IMD) in the morning, the possible cyclonic storm is moving towards West Bengal and may hit the coast on May 20, informed Odisha Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Kumar Jena today.

Briefing a presser, he told media that it is early to predict the exact path of the system, which will be intensified into a cyclonic storm by today evening over the Bay of Bengal.

In view of the possible cyclonic storm, Odisha Government has alerted 12 coastal districts to remain prepared.

“Especially the coastal districts in southern and northern regions have been asked to remain alert. Under influence of cyclonic storm, the rain will start from May 18 evening in south coastal districts upto Kendrapara. Heavy rainfall may occur in north Odisha districts on May 19 with wind speed upto 60 kmph and gusting upto 80-85 kmph.  The wind speed may gradually increase upto 110 kmph in some places. The coastal districts will experience heavy rainfall on May 20, the day of landfall,” Jena said.

The districts, which will be affected in Odisha due to cyclonic storm, include Gajapati, Ganjam, Nayagarh, Khordha, Puri, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore, Mayurbhanj and Dhenkanal.

In the sea, the wind speed is expected to be between 90-150 kmph and gusting upto 160-190 kmph, as per the recent estimate by the IMD, he said.

“Entire state mechanism is on alert to handle the challenge now. The collector of all the 12 districts have been asked to monitor the situation. As the cyclone will hit in the summer, the probability for flood like situation is comparatively less.  However, the district authorities have been directed to be ready for temporary evacuation of people to safe places,” the SRC said.

The government is planning to deploy 20 teams of ODRAF and 18 teams of NDRF as well as the additional force tomorrow or May 18.