Bhubaneswar: The Puri administration has decided to restrict access to the sea beaches here in view of the impending severe cyclonic storm Montha, which is expected bring sustained winds blowing at 90 to 100 kmph, gusting up to 110 kmph and trigger heavy rainfall across southern coastal districts.
No tourists will be allowed on the Puri beaches on October 27, 28 and 29.
“Lifeguards have been deployed in all sectors, including Blue Flag Beach and Niladri Beach. Since high tides are expected in the sea due to the cyclonic storm, tourists will not be allowed to enter the water from tomorrow. We are strictly following government guidelines. Lifeguards are advising people not to venture too deep into the sea through megaphones,” said Jigyanshu Behera, in-charge of the FDR Outpost in Puri.
Meanwhile, disaster management teams in Odisha are on a high alert in view of the cyclonic storm, brewing in the Bay of Bengal, with a heavy rainfall alert issued for the state from October 27 onwards. Seven districts have cancelled government employees’ leaves to ensure readiness.
Leaves of all government employees in Balasore, Malkangiri, Koraput, Kalahandi and Gajapati districts has been cancelled, while officials in Ganjam and Kendrapada districts has been directed to remain stationed at their headquarters until further orders.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said all district administrations, disaster response teams, and local bodies have been put on alert and directed to ensure round-the-clock readiness to tackle any possible emergency situation, especially in southern and coastal districts.
District collectors have been directed to evacuate residents from low-lying and vulnerable areas, he said, adding that 15 districts in coastal and southern Odisha are likely to be most affected.
The system is likely to make landfall near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh on the night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm.
Cyclonic storm to take shape in 24 hours
On Sunday morning, the depression over southeast Bay of Bengal intensified into a Deep Depression over the same region, about 610 km west of Port Blair (Andaman & Nicobar Islands), 790 km east-southeast of Chennai (Tamil Nadu), 850 km south-southeast of Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), 840 km southeast of Kakinada (Andhra Pradesh) and 950 km south-southeast of Gopalpur (Odisha).
It is likely to move nearly westnorthwestwards, intensify further into a cyclonic storm over southwest & adjoining westcentral Bay of Bengal during the next 24 hours. Thereafter it is likely to move northwestwards, then north-northwestwards and intensify into a severe cyclonic storm by morning of October 28. Continuing to move further north-northwestwards, it is very likely to cross Andhra Pradesh coast between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam around Kakinada during evening/night of October 28 as a severe cyclonic storm with a maximum sustained wind speed of 90-100 kmph gusting to 110 kmph.
Impact in Odisha
Sixteen of Odisha’s 30 districts are likely to experience significant impact.
A red alert (rainfall of 20 cm and above) has been issued for seven districts—Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Ganjam, and Gajapati – on October 28-29. An orange warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall of 12 cm to 20 cm has been issued for the districts of Puri, Khurda, Nayagarh, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Balangir, Boudh, Kandhamal, Gajapati, Ganjam and Nabarangpur on these two days.
Seventeen districts are under yellow warning where rainfall of 7 cm to 11 cm is likely to occur.
Squally weather with wind speed reaching 35 to 45 kmph may prevail along and off the south Odisha coast from Saturday evening. It is likely to increase becoming 45 to 55 kmph gusting to 65 kmph from October 26 evening and becoming gale wind speed reaching 60 to 70 kmph gusting to 80 kmph from October 27 evening to early hours of October 28 and decrease gradually thereafter. Fishermen have been advised against venturing into the south-west, adjoining central Bay of Bengal, and along and off the Odisha coast till October 29.
According to the IMD, the approaching cyclonic storm could severely damage thatched homes and huts, with strong winds potentially blowing away rooftops and loose metal sheets. Power and communication lines may be disrupted due to damage, causing connectivity issues.Additionally, the agency warns of damage to kutcha roads, partial harm to pucca roads, and flooding of escape routes in multiple areas. Large trees may be uprooted, and branches or dead limbs could break, endangering people and property. Banana and papaya plantations are likely to face extensive destruction, while paddy, horticultural, and standing crops may suffer significant losses due to flooding and strong winds.
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