Cyclone Amphan To Trigger Heavy Rain In Odisha, But No Flood Threat: SRC

Bhubaneswar: Cyclone Amphan will trigger heavy rainfall in coastal Odisha, but there will be no flood situation in the state, Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Pradeep Jena informed on Saturday.

Jena further said that the state government will evacuate people living in asbestos and thatched houses from the low-lying areas, if necessary.

He also informed that 20 ODRAF teams, 18 NDRF teams and 335 Fire brigade teams are kept in readiness to tackle the cyclonic storm. “The collectors of 12 coastal districts have been asked to take necessary measures in advance,” he added.

The SRC urged people not go for panic buying as the state has enough stock of food.

Jena informed that as per the forecast by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the depression over southeast Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood has moved northwestwards with a speed of 20 kmph during the last three hours and lay centred at about 1060 km south of Paradip, 1220 km south-southwest of Digha (West Bengal) and 1310 km south-southwest of Khepupara (Bangladesh) at 8.30 am.

It is very likely to intensify rapidly into a cyclonic storm during next 12 hours and further into a severe cyclonic storm during the subsequent 24 hours. It is likely to move north-northwestwards initially till May 17 and then re-curve north-northeastwards across northwest Bay of Bengal towards West Bengal coast between May 18 and 20.

Talking about the wind speed, the SRC said the squally wind speed reaching 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph will blow along and off the Odisha coast from the morning on May 19 and it will gradually increase to 75-85 kmph with gusting up to 95 kmph from the morning on May 20 along and off the north Odisha and West Bengal coast.

Stating that the squally wind speed at 45-55 kmph with gusting up to 65 kmph is prevailing over the southeast and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal, Jena said it is likely to increase to 90-100 kmph with gusting to 110 kmph over east-central and adjoining west-central Bay of Bengal by the morning on May 17, 120-130 kmph with gusting up to 145 kmph over southern parts of central Bay of Bengal by the morning on May 18, 155-165 kmph with gusting up to 180 kmph over northern parts of central Bay of Bengal and adjoining north Bay of Bengal on May 19 and 160-170 kmph gusting to 190 kmph over north Bay of Bengal by the morning on May 20.

Also Read: Coast Guard Gears Up Along Odisha, Bengal Coasts For Approaching Cyclone